[imc-oxford-features] [Fwd: Feature PROPOSAL]

[hamish]

This needs some links, a photo and a bit about the tree occupations
adding - then can it go up as a FEATURE on Oxford IMC

Westgate 'indefinitely postponed'

The multi-million pound commercial Westgate expansion in Oxford centre,
driven by Capital Shopping, has been 'indefinitely postponed', due to
the credit crunch. This would not have happened had the developers not
been so greedy and complacent that they added into their proposal a
stretch of land known as Abbey Place housing; 14 housing units for
vulnerable and sometimes extremely disabled residents. Capital Shopping
tried, with the backing of most of Oxford City Council, to evict and
demolish these houses. It did not turn out as easy as they had hoped,
and a High Court challenge led to Public Inquiry into the proposal to
compulsorily purchase and evict those of the houses that are privately
owned. A delay of 6 months ensued, during which the economic climate
changed enough to force Capital Shopping to put their plans on
indefinite hold.

Now the land lies semi-desolate, with mature trees having been cut down,
and the crumbling multi-storey car park still attracting drivers into
Oxford's already congested and polluted centre. But the residents of
Abbey Place are still in thier homes, and are now hoping that the City
Council will at last make the repairs to their homes that have been
outstanding during the past year.

However the planning permission for the site is now almost 2 years old.
In another year it will have run its course, and the developers will
have to re-apply if they want to develop the land according to their brief.

The battle is not yet over therefore, but only postponed for the time
being.

PS. we still need a feture on the EOCC aressets (: