A MAJOR demolition project in Oxford’s Cornmarket is reaching a new phase, as work continues on a £36m college shops revamp.
Jesus College is refurbishing Northgate House, on the corner of Cornmarket and Market Street.
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Work started last month inside the row of shops, which once featured fashion giants Next and River Island, which both switched to the Westgate Centre in 2017.
Contractors have been stripping out the shop units but so far there has been no major demolition and developers have not yet confirmed when this will begin.
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Traders are now being told that new hoardings will go up in the next few days, which is likely to indicate the start of a new phase of work, including more noticeable demolition.
BAM Construction, which is carrying out the work for Jesus College, told traders in its March newsletter: “In the next few weeks, we will isolate the remaining live services within the Northgate building; install a permanent site hoarding with artwork to follow; continue the final works within the existing building, and carefully dismantle a section of the existing Jesus College boundary wall, in preparation for a new temporary substation to be installed for the duration of the project.”
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The scheme is expected to be completed by 2021, to coincide with the college’s 450th anniversary.
Principal of Jesus College Sir Nigel Shadbolt said earlier: "New retail spaces on the ground floor will help regenerate the city centre, and access via Market Street will help bring the College closer to the local community.
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“We see this as an opportunity not just to embrace the future of learning at Jesus College, but to help improve and enhance the Cornmarket area of Oxford.”
Above new retail units there will be about 68 student rooms 68 student rooms. There will also be a ‘gatehouse’ providing teaching rooms or exhibition space.The scheme has been designed by MICA Architects and a new artist’s impression of the college quad has now been revealed.
The redevelopment of Northgate House was backed by city councillors in August after it was called in over fears it was too tall.
The existing building will now be completely redeveloped to include retail units within the lower levels and about 68 student rooms above, plus the ‘gatehouse’ providing teaching rooms or exhibition space.
Access arrangements agreed with the city and county councils means lorries will be allowed to use Cornmarket to make deliveries or remove materials but not between between 10am and 7pm.
Between 5am and 10am they can use the street to make deliveries, and after 7pm by agreement, driving in at Carfax and leaving via George Street.
Graham Jones, of traders’ group ROX - Backing Oxford Business, said: “So far the contractors have done a brilliant job in a very restricted area.
"They will have to work carefully to contain the dust."
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