Lothbury looks to create ‘green oasis’ with Oxford shopping mall revamp

New details have been revealed of a planned overhaul of Oxford’s Clarendon Centre, which Lothbury Investment Management wants to redevelop as retail and office space, student accommodation and laboratories. In revised documents for the application, published by Oxford City Council today, Farrer Huxley outlined details of its landscape masterplan for the site. The report said the goal is to create a “green oasis” in the city centre, with public realm that “reinstates a pattern and urban grain from before the Clarendon and of much closer relation to the medieval city”. That will include a new central square, Clarendon Square, as well as new courtyards and a roofscape that Farrer Huxley said will be “an unashamedly new landscape for the 21st century”, adding: “Contemporary roofs are complex, delivering everything from energy to biodiversity and water management”. Farrer Huxley reiterated earlier comments on the challenges facing the centre and the site.  “The future of our urban centres seems now unclear, as shopping trends change and the role of retail evolves,” it said. “Understanding nature and being outside now seems more relevant than ever before; the role of retail as a city centre function is in jeopardy to the internet and the pandemic is changing working patterns such that the office in city centres is now not the only desirable option for work. The proposal aims to address these challenges.” Plans for the redevelopment were lodged a year ago. At the time, Lothbury said the centre faced “headwinds” and was “unsustainable” in its current form as a retail-led shopping centre. The plans have yet to be heard by committee. To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@eg.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @EGPropertyNews Image © Farrer Huxley Click here to see more retail, office and student accommodation planning applications in Oxford >>