Our stunning UK city is blighted by ‘eyesore' shopping centre that NEEDS revamp – or will send us into ‘downward spiral'
LOCALS say their stunning city has been blighted by an "eyesore" shopping centre that needs a revamp.
The rundown building has been affected by crime and antisocial behaviour.
4
The Templars Square shopping centre in Cowley, Oxford, first opened on May 11, 1965 - 60 years later, there are concerns that it is on a "downward spiral."
In March 2022 the property was bought by Redevco, a real estate investment manager and developer, for £38.8 million.
They hoped to turn the centre into a mixed-urban scheme, however, they said they are still "some way off" from being able to publicly share their plans.
They last held a public consultation in late 2022, with around 9000 locals invited to attend.
In the meantime, they are trying to encourage independent retailers to move into the empty units.
These delays are leaving local politicians frustrated by the lack of change.
The city council had approved redevelopment plans back in 2017 which included building a hotel, restaurants and 226 flats and was set to cost £60 million.
These plans were made by developer NewRiver prior to selling the centre to Redevco.
Councillor Linda Smith, the cabinet member for housing at Oxford City Council told Oxford Mail:"The city council aren't holding Redevco back at all.
"We understand it's a difficult time for investment in this kind of development.
Historic George square statues removed
"But if it is going to take time, then it's really important that the centre isn't allowed to just spiral downwards and get worse."
As it currently stands she said it is "not fit for purpose" and is "nothing less than an eyesore in places."
Not only is the building ruining the cityscape, but it has also become a hotspot for crime.
Police were recently called to the site following reports that groups of youths were having organised fights in mid-March.
Annaliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, raised concerns over crime in Cowley earlier this year, and is keen for more resources in the suburbs.
There were 189 crimes recorded by the Oxford Cowley Neighbourhood Policing Team in December 2024, largely occurring near Templars Square.
Locals celebrated the 60th anniversary of the centre on the 11th May with an Elton John tribute act, a display of three Leyland Princess cars, and an historical walking tour with historian Maurice East.
We have approached Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police for comment.
4
4
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
Crystal Palace line up £40m-rated AC Milan star Strahinja Pavlovic in Marc Guehi replacement transfer
OLIVER GLASNER will make a new move to sign AC Milan's Strahinja Pavlovic with the Italian club wanting £40million. The Crystal Palace boss thinks the powerful Serb would be an ideal addition with Europe on the agenda next term. 1 Centre-back Pavlovic, 24, only moved from RB Salzburg for £15m a year ago but Palace have been tracking him for months. Boss Glasner wants extra competition at the back but the Eagles will not pay over the top and could start the bidding at just £25m. Glasner is a huge fan of Pavlovic's — who was a regular in Milan's Serie A and Champions League campaigns — so it is an ambitious target. He scored two goals and provided just as many assists in 35 appearances from centre-back this term. Meanwhile, Pavlovic started six of Milan's ten Champions League games, and 21 Serie A matches. Palace qualified for next seasons Europa League after beating Manchester City in a shock 1-0 win in the FA Cup final. But the club's European status is under threat from Uefa because owner John Textor also owns shares in Lyon. Juventus' Tiago Djalo, 25, is an alternative. Palace are possibly in the market for two defenders, especially if Marc Guehi leaves. Burnley's Maxime Esteve, 23, is also admired. Meanwhile, Palace are in talks with striker Jean-Philippe Mateta over signing a new contract. The 27-year-old was a standout performer in Glasner's side last season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions as Palace won the FA Cup - their first major trophy.
Telegraph
32 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Starmer's raid on family businesses to cost his constituents 1,000 jobs
Labour's tax raid on family businesses is projected to cost hundreds of jobs in Sir Keir Starmer's constituency alone, new analysis shows. The revenue-raising scheme is also projected to hit the local economies of Labour constituencies harder than their Conservative, Reform and Liberal Democrat-voting counterparts. Analysis by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which represents nearly 200,000 UK businesses, revealed that the changes to business property relief (BPR) announced in Rachel Reeves's October Budget will stifle growth in Labour seats across the country. The CBI claims that the average gross value added (GVA) losses in seats that elected Labour MPs at the last general election will be over £24 million, compared to £20 million in Conservative seats and £18.5 million in Reform constituencies. The projections span from the October 2024 budget to April 2030, after the next general election. Only seats held by the Green Party fared worse with an average GVA loss of around £40 million, suggesting that cities and urban centres will be worst hit by the raid. The CBI expects the economic hit to result in thousands of job losses in the most-exposed constituencies. Sir Keir's seat of Holborn and St Pancras will be the fourth-worst hit constituency in the country with 1,037 jobs expected to be lost, according to the analysis. Cabinet ministers to feel the pinch in their seats Red Wall seats are also set to suffer. The analysis shows that of £14.9 billion in nationwide GVA losses, some £4.6 billion (31 per cent) of that will hit constituencies that the Tories won in 2019 and Labour won back in 2024. These seats include the 31 Red Wall seats in the North and Midlands along with other key marginal constituencies which Labour will hope to win again at the next election if it wants to stay in power. Senior Cabinet ministers will also feel the pinch in their constituencies. The second-worst hit seat in the country, Manchester Central, is currently represented by Lucy Powell, the Leader of the House of Commons. The third-worst hit seat is Birmingham Ladywood, represented by Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary. Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, represents the ninth-worst-hit seat of Leeds South. In the October Budget, the Chancellor slashed BPR in an attempt to raise money from family businesses. BPR was originally introduced by a Labour government in the 1970s. It allows company shareholders to leave business assets to loved ones without paying inheritance tax on them. But in a sweeping change that will take effect in April 2026, full business relief will only apply to the first £1 million of a business's assets upon a shareholder's death, with everything above this subject to 20 per cent tax.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Crystal Palace set to learn Europa League fate this week as co-owner looks to buy out John Textor
JOSH HARRIS wants to buy out John Textor in the latest tug of war at Crystal Palace. Textor owns around 45 per cent of the club and was planning to make a move on Harris and David Blitzer — who have 18 per cent each — to purchase their shares. 3 3 3 But that has failed so far — with Textor now willing to sell up to avoid Palace being booted out of the Europa League due to Uefa's rules on multi-club ownership. The European governing body's regulations mean Textor, majority owner of Lyon, cannot have influence at two clubs in the same competition. But a sale is unlikely to be quick and will not impact the decision of Uefa chiefs. And Harris is looking to pay a smaller sum than his US compatriot wants. Textor, whose Palace club won entry to the Europa League through winning the FA Cup, does not have a majority stake and only 25 per cent of voting rights. Palace hope that relatively low figure will help their case with Uefa, who are expected to deliver a verdict next week. Lyon are also set to feature in the competition having finished higher than Palace domestically, with a sixth-placed finish in the Ligue 1 last season. Uefa rules prohibit anyone from "simultaneously be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration, and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a Uefa club competition." The prospect of Palace dropping into the Conference League is also nigh-on impossible too. This is because other shareholder David Blizter also has a stake in Danish oufit Brondby, who are set to play in European football 's tertiary club competition next season. In a desperate bid to see the Eagles fly across Europe next season and comply with Uefa rules, Textor and Blizter offered to put their shares in a blind trust. But Uefa chiefs have REJECTED the offer, leaving Palace's proposed European adventure next season in limbo.
