THE owners of Oxford's Westgate Centre are today expected to announce a solution to the transport deadlock which is delaying the £220m redevelopment plans.

Capital Shopping Centres is planning a massive revamp of the city centre shopping arcade.

But while the latest masterplan for the centre would triple the amount of floorspace, councillors are concerned that the number of parking spaces provided is inadequate.

For months talks have been taking place between the owners, local authorities and bus companies to try to find a transport solution which would allow a bus hub to be built near the centre.

Both local authorities hope that the solution will enable traffic to be removed from Queen Street so that it can be pedestrianised like Cornmarket Street.

Richard Cable, director of Capital Shopping Centres, is expected to reveal details of the transport solution to city and county councillors at a meeting taking place at the Westgate Centre at 6pm tonight.

Earlier this month Capital appointed Townshend Landscape Architects to the project.

The firm is responsible for landscaping high-profile redevelopment projects including Bluewater in Kent and the Kings Cross Centre Masterplan in London.

Architects' spokesman Robert Townshend said the firm wanted to establish a framework of pedestrian links and squares as part of the redevelopment.

Further public consultation will take place on the plans later this year.