THE final stumbling block in the way of the £330m redevelopment of Oxford's Westgate Centre has been lifted.

The city council has been given the go-ahead for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for 14 sheltered homes in Abbey Place, behind the Westgate.

Work was not able to start on the redevelopment until developers could acquire the flats.

Disabled Vincent McKeown, 52, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and communicates by blinking, did not want to leave his home in Abbey Place.

But he looks set to have to move as the bulldozers move in to start work on changing the face of that quarter of the city centre.

Council leader John Goddard welcomed the news and said it was a major step forward for the city.

He said: "I'm delighted. The last legal wrinkle has now been ironed out. This is really good news for the people of Oxford.

"It will make Oxford a much more desirable shopping place as well as bringing affordable housing to the city centre."

Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), which owns the Westgate, said work could now begin this summer following the Secretary of State's decision to grant the CPO.

The ruling came after a two-week public inquiry in December.

CSC said it had already begun putting the finishing touches to the design with contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, and expected the shopping venue to be open in early 2012.

Department store giant John Lewis, along with Urban Outfitters, H&M and Footlocker have already declared an interest in moving in.

The site of the centre became a scene of controversy in January as protesters staged a three-day demonstration to try to prevent the felling of trees in Norfolk Street.

It resulted in the arrest of county councillor Deborah Glass Woodin for aggravated trespass.

Mrs Woodin said: "I'm in shock. It's a sad day for Oxford. This shows a complete lack of vision. Big shopping centres are not the way the world is going.

"Why is Oxford always 10 steps behind in realising things like this?

"I am sure there will be more protests because there are a lot of people against this proposal."

Carfax councillor Sushila Dhall said: "I think it is an awful proposal and if the residents of Abbey Place want me to continue to fight the demolition of their homes then I am committed to doing that."

However, Mr Goddard added: "I can understand that some people did not want there to be any development in the city but I think they are wrong.

"I think they are misguided and I hope they will accept this decision with good grace. It has gone through all the proper democratic processes."

City centre management company OX1 chief executive Oliver O'Dell said: "This is good news for the city. It will bring new sh- ops into the city centre, giving people a reason to come back to Oxford rather than shopping in Reading and Milton Keynes."

CSC spokesman Simon Ward said: "The Westgate Partnership welcomes the decision of the Secretary of State in granting this order."