Essential Projects, a Nottingham based bespoke metal and glass manufacturer has been awarded a contract for work to be carried out at the Westgate Shopping Centre in Oxford. The business will install a range of glass and metal work that has been crafted especially for the Next Retail store in the newly constructed Shopping Centre.

Westgate Shopping Centre is located in the middle of Oxford city centre and is thought to have cost £440 million. The Westgate development has gone ahead in order to rejuvenate and transform the already established shopping centre. The construction work will create a retail and leisure destination that will be spread across 800,000 sq. ft. and include a range of different facilities.

There are plans for 100 new retail stores as well as 25 different restaurants and cafés and a boutique cinema. There will also be a rooftop dining space and a wealth of new public spaces to be enjoyed by visitors to the city.

In order to fund the over £400 million pound planned work, the Westgate Oxford Alliance has had to acquire investments through a joint venture between Land Securities and the Crown Estate. This joint venture has also seen Laing O’Rourke nominated as the principal contractor for the Oxford project.

The plans for the Westgate development were approved by Oxford City Council, and the preparatory works first began at the site in February 2015. The the extension of the shopping and leisure centre is expected to be complete in Autumn this year.

Essential Projects has been contracted by Laing O’Rourke as part of the ongoing work on the site to design, manufacture and install a range of tailor made metal and glass staircases as well as make some structural alterations. Essential Projects has also been tasked with the manufacture of a range of unique features that are needed for the new Next Plc store is being built as part of the development.