PLANS to overhaul Cowley centre are set to be given the go ahead tonight.

Proposals to demolish a car park at Templars Square Shopping Centre and replace it with a more modern 'mixed development' are recommended to be approved by Oxford City Council's planning committee.

The plans are part of a larger scheme to redevelop the whole of the 'mid 20th century' style shopping centre, which have been discussed for years.

Delays to the redevelopment have happened partly because of Covid, and now planning chiefs are being asked to consider them again after a time limit to carry out the works ran out.

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Since permission for the work was granted in 2017, the city council has changed its planning rules, and is now trying to encourage more people to take up cycling and walking instead of driving everywhere.

City councillors on the planning committee have been asked to consider whether they think the plans for Cowley centre, agreed before these changes, meet with the new rules.

The developer, a company called New River, has plans to build new cycle lanes on Between Towns Road, as well as a new bus stop with a live display of buses.

The current plans would see a multi-storey car park connected to the shopping centre demolished and replaced with 72 flats and 46 car parking spaces.

A total of 424 parking spaces would be lost if the plans go ahead, and most of the new flats would be 'car-free'.