An Oxford resident has bemoaned the changing face of a major road on the outskirts of the city centre as the demolition of two former retail units has started.

The former DFS and Carpetright units in Botley Road are being flattened to make way for a multi-million pound scheme for new offices.

The new development will be used for a wide variety of research and development work, from life sciences to tech and manufacturing.

Demolition company Colemans told us the demolition works would last for 15 weeks, having started on November 11. 

Adrian Rosser, of Botley Road, is an opponent of the scheme as well as the plans to build new offices and labs on the retail space which is the current home to shops such as Currys PC World, ScrewFix, Bensons for Beds, Pets at Home and Wren Kitchens.

READ MORE: Oxford city centre playground plan based on continent passed

Botley Road demolition site (Image: Newsquest) Mr Rosser's main complaint is over the planned heights for the buildings. 

He said: “So now the rot has started. Eventually the Botley Road will be full of large and in many peoples' opinion, ugly buildings, far too big for a major entry road to beautiful Oxford. 

“The developers try to get the residents on board by saying that there will be space for the residents to go into cafés and outside seating areas. 

“Why should anyone want to sit in the shadow of buildings occupying the places where they used to go shopping?

"Some of these outside seating areas will be in the shade of the horrendously large buildings from early October until late February, so who on earth would want to sit in them? 

“The planners do not seem to have asked what fumes are coming out of the chimneys, and the developers do not know because they do not know who is going to occupy the buildings, so we are being held to ransom that extremely noxious fumes could be sweeping over the whole of Oxford from this development on the west.

"I am not in favour of this individual development or all of the developments on the Botley Road at all. 

“Where are the lab technicians and the cleaners going to live?

"What is needed is affordable accommodation near the centre of town so that essential workers do not have to commute in.”

The Oxford Preservation Trust has also raised concerns about the buildings' potential heights. 

Senior planner Laura Warden said: “With three applications current submitted for the redevelopment of sites along the Botley Road it is clear great change is imminent for this key route into the city.”

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About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby