Green dream for Westgate

From the archive, first published Wednesday 23rd Feb 2005.

A roof garden, lightweight tram link and renewable energy plant form part of a Green vision for an expanded Westgate shopping centre.

Oxfordshire's Green Party today reveal their long-awaited plans for the shopping centre. Riding high on their success at last week's Oxford City Council budget meeting, where the group managed to push through several key proposals in an alliance with Labour, they are confident their plans will curry favour with developers, Westgate Partnership, and the Oxford public alike.

Their proposals include:

A "green roof" -- a roof garden to enhance biodiversity, provide a public amenity and reduce flooding from run-off

A £500,000 lightweight tram link -- a high-quality, low-cost public transport service to the Westgate centre from Oxford train station via Gloucester Green and New Inn Hall Street

A zero-emission, energy efficient development eliminating all damaging greenhouse gas emissions through on-site renewable energy sources

Making the development the heart of a publicly-owned district heating system, providing green electricity and hot water to neighbouring properties.

The cost of the redevelopment of the Westgate centre is estimated at £220m. It will include scores more shops and create 1,400 new jobs. Developers now have the Green plans and will assess their suitability and cost.

Provided there are no hold-ups, the new shopping centre could be open by 2011.

The Greens believe the Westgate development provides a chance to create a renewable energy company -- Oxford Heat and Power -- with green initiatives like wood chip burners used to power surrounding properties and heat being piped across the city.

Craig Simmons, Oxford Green group leader and a city and county councillor, said: "A lot of these measures would be free -- and reduce costs.

"There is evidence a green roof doesn't necessarily cost any more and the development will have to have a flat roof anyway.

"The insulation of the earth will save money in reduced energy costs and reduce run-off, which is beneficial in an area that floods."

The key issue emerging from consultation on the Westgate redevelopment is transport. How to ferry people in and out of the city centre is one of the biggest headaches facing the developers.

Plans for a GTE busway -- a concrete highway linking the Peartree and Redbridge park and rides with Oxford train station -- was ditched by the county council last year, but only after they had spent £500,000 on feasibility studies.

The Greens think a lightweight tram scheme will work because tracks are laid on the existing road, requiring minimal installation.

Jane McFarland, group development manager for the Westgate Partnership, said: "We will be studying the content of the document closely and look forward to discussing their views in more depth."

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