DEVELOPERS are planning a smallscale revamp of Oxford’s ageing Westgate shopping centre but promise the £330m redevelopment of the 1970s mall is still going ahead.

Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), the company behind the stalled rebuilding of the city’s main shopping complex, said it wanted to remodel and improve the existing centre, bringing in new retailers and extending some shop leases.

But last night fresh doubts surfaced as to whether the multi-million-pound rebuild would ever go ahead.

CSC is under pressure to show the redevelopment is not being shelved indefinitely – with the Labour-controlled city council set to seek assurances that it can be done “within a reasonable time period”.

There is speculation that plans for a flagship John Lewis store may be substantially redrawn to bring down costs, with a new planning application having to be resubmitted.

Capital confirmed it was moving ahead with modest plans to remodel the centre in recognition that trade had been hit by its present “sad” appearance.

It is also seeking to tempt new businesses to the Westgate with the promise of longer leases in a bid to end the ongoing uncertainty for existing stores.

Oxford City Council leader Bob price said the stalled plans to redevelop the Westgate “did not look brilliant”.

But Craig Simmons, leader of the city’s Green group which has consistently opposed the proposed redevelopment, went further and said: “I am hoping this will be the end of this redevelopment scheme rather than a delay.

“A large-scale redevelopment like this is crazy in the light of both the current financial and retail climates.”

The Westgate redevelopment was put on hold in July 2008.

Last night, CSC would only put the starting date of the redevelopment as being “at least two years away.”

It said talks were continuing with both John Lewis and the city council.

In an interview with Property Weekly, CSC managing director Kay Chaldecott said: “We have opportunities to remodel and improve the centre.

“It has been looking sad and sorry for itself, which has affected footfall. Now we can improve it visually.”

It is understood the company will seek to extend some temporary leases for at least the next two years.

Mr Price said: “As I understand it, discussions between CSC and John Lewis are still progressing .

“We will have to see if the two parties can bring together something that makes sense financially.”

He added: “The building agreement between ourselves and CSC expires at the end of the year.

“We hope that before the deadline arrives we have some greater clarity about the options and their intentions for the whole site.

“It is a deadline they are aware of and so are we.

“It is important to regenerate this part of Oxford.

“We would want to be clear that there is some expected outcome within a reasonable time period.

“It is not looking brilliant at the moment, but I believe the bigger vision is still alive.”

Jeremy Collins, head of retail development at John Lewis, said: “We remain committed to a department store in the city centre and we’re seeking a solution with Capital Shopping Centres.”