Nuffield says no to Queen Street plans
Nuffield has objected to traffic plans for the new Westgate Centre
Nuffield College has refused to consent to a new plan which would allow for the pedestrianisation of Queen Street. This blow to the £300m scheme aimed at redeveloping the Westgate Centre has occurred just weeks prior to the final date for submitting the planning applications. Hopes for the development of the area have included the pedestrianisation of Queen Street, which would mean that a new bus route would have to be found.
After the year-long search for a possible solution, a transport working group combining representatives of the Westgate Partnership, bus companies and officers from the city and county councils had decided that allowing buses to turn on the Worcester Street car park was currently the only viable option. The land on Worcester Street forms part of Lord Nuffield’s generous endowment to the college.
Nuffield College has since declared that it does not want the car park to become a site for bus turning, either on a long term basis or merely as a medium term solution to the problem. Professor Iain McLean, investment bursar for Nuffield College, said, “Our college is a working college and buses turning opposite our site would neither be desirable for students nor staff working in the nearby offices.
“The college is also dependent on the income that it receives from land due to it being used as a car park any developments taking place would therefore have to provide as much income as is currently received from the site. The college is an educational charity and not a property developer, any decision will depend fully on income requirements being met.
Transport planners may now have to reconsider their planning application, although the Westgate Partnership’s plans for the redevelopment of the shopping centre will still be submitted. Responsibility for the resolution of the problems with pedestrianisation will now lie with the city and county councils. Nevertheless, plans for the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre are set to go ahead.
Nicky Winch, a representative from the Westgate Partnership, said, “Fortunately, we had the thumbs up and didn’t need to make any changes to our applications. They were able to go ahead on their own merit.”
23rd Feb 2006