THE developer for a £200m scheme to develop Oxpens in Oxford is expected to be announced in September.

The scheme, led by the city council and Nuffield College, is the next phase of the regeneration of the West End, and follows the revamp of the £440m Westgate Centre.

The Oxpens scheme will feature a mixed housing and commercial quarter, including office space and about 500 homes.

The hunt for a developer to take forward the proposed Oxpens scheme is under way and consultants Bidwells and JLL have been tasked to sign up a developer so that building work could start next year or in 2020.

Nuffield College Bursar Gwilym Hughes said: “We are talking to a shortlist of potential developers and and it is our intention to identify a preferred developer in September.”

Ian Green, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said it was vital that an efficient and effective transport plan was in place for the West End, taking into account Oxpens, Frideswide Square, the railway centre and the Westgate Centre.

He added: “I understand that the council and Nuffield College are in the process of recruiting the development company and they are down to a shortlist of three.

“Once a revised masterplan for Oxpens is drawn up the revisions will need to be linked to a transport strategy for Oxpens and the surrounding area.

“This is moving forward a little more slowly than first anticipated but that’s okay as long as they get it right - the transport strategy is a key element.”

Mr Hughes added that the transport network for Oxpens was a key feature and would be considered very carefully.

A statement on Bidwells’ website said: “Oxpens sits in prime position almost opposite John Lewis, between the new Westgate shopping centre and Oxford railway station and adjacent to a new 500 unit scheme by Student Castle that was granted planning consent earlier this year.”

A new joint venture company has been launched by Oxford City Council and Nuffield College.

The new company, Oxford West End Developments Ltd (OxWED), acquired land at Oxpens from London and Continental Railways and the city council.

OxWED board member Kevin Minns said: “We now down to a shortlist of three, with the final selection made later this year.”

He said the Student Castle development, providing 500 study bedrooms off Osney Lane formed the ‘first phase’ of the Oxpens scheme.