Stores are queuing up to move into booming Oxford.

There were fears that plans for a glittering new £220m Westgate centre could draw in shops from other parts of the city centre, leading to many empty buildings.

Jane Dickers, spokesman for the city council's city centre management team, said today: "There are 164 businesses currently looking for space in Oxford and they can't find any. That includes major High Street names.

"I have no doubt that we will be able to fill any space vacated by businesses wanting to move to the Westgate." One major worry is whether, with Oxfordshire's low unemployment, there will be enough people to build and work in the new centre which is expected to create up to 3,500 jobs.

Richard Cable, group development manager at Capital Shopping Centres, which is planning the scheme, said: "It is difficult to put figures on these things but I would expect between 1,000 and 1,500 to be employed in the construction and between 1,500 and 2,000 after that. Clearly, we don't want to be in a situation where we have a new development and no staff to work in it. "Who knows what the situation will be in 2003 or 2004? If we find ourselves with full employment at the time, we will have to try to hire from further afield."

Christopher Quinton, president of Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce, said the developers should be aware that many Oxford employers had recruitment problems.

Referring to the Westgate, he said: "I think some of the shops are already having trouble. We need to get the Government to focus on this core of about 5,000 people still out of work in the county. "While the number is so low, we feel now is the time to invest in training to make those people employable and then we have the chance of getting to an unemployment level of absolutely zero."

Sandy Griffiths, secretary of the Covered Market Tenants' Association, said: "We are all struggling to recruit. The trouble is that it is difficult for potential employees to move to Oxford because housing is so expensive here.

"Retail wages are not high, so it is not like the situation for scientists or other very skilled people. Lack of low-cost housing is the difficulty." The public were given their first chance to have their say on the Westgate plans this week. Described as the city's biggest scheme for 15 years, its features include a bus interchange under part of the centre, 30 new shops, a department store and a 1,400-space underground car park.

Bonn Square will also be re-modelled with Queen Street closed to buses.

Mr Cable, aware that Bonn Square has a reputation for attracting beggars, is optimistic that a transformation may help make it an altogether more pleasant area to sit in. He said: "One would hope the whole environment is improved as a result."

Plans include transforming Castle Street by removing the subway. The existing multi-storey car park will be demolished and restaurants and cafes will be included. There will also be a health and fitness club, roof-top flats and playgroup facilities.

The centre will stretch to Thames Street.

Between now and November 19, shoppers have the chance to look at a display stand in the shopping centre.

A public meeting will also be held at the Town Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday, November 11.

Story date: Friday 29 October

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.