REGENERATION bosses are close to announcing a development partner for a £200m scheme to revamp Oxpens in Oxford.

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

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

Consultants Bidwells and JLL have been tasked to sign up a developer so that building work can start next year or in 2020 and Nuffield College bursar Gwilym Hughes said an announcement, initially expected in September, was now close and is likely to be made before Christmas.

He said: “October 1 was the closing date for bids and we have spent the past four weeks analysing the bids, from a shortlist of three, to come up with a preferred bidder.

“We are on track to make an announcement very soon – I’m hoping it will be before Christmas.”

Mr Hughes said the scheme has attracted interest from ‘top national developers’.

He added: “They are major developers for a scheme outside London – that seems to be evidence of how importance Oxford is and will be to the national economy.

"This is a fantastic story for Oxford – a very optimistic one."

He added: “We think our proposals are part of an opportunity to look at the whole of the West End and regenerate it.”

Last month Winvic Construction announced detailed plans for a neighbouring scheme for a 515-bedroom development for student accommodation provider Student Castle, on the site of the former Osney Lane car park.

The accommodation, close to the railway station, will feature student flats and one bed and two-bedroom studios and will be completed by the summer of 2020.

Buildings in the three main blocks will range from five to six storeys and will also house a gym, games area, lounge, private meeting rooms, roof terraces and a store for 290 bikes.

Ian Green, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said earlier 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.

A statement on Bidwells’ website said: “The joint agents believe there is likely to be strong developer interest given the limited development opportunities in such an historic city. Oxpens sits in a prime position almost opposite John Lewis, between the new Westgate shopping centre and Oxford railway station.”

The council and Nuffield College formed a joint venture company to develop Oxpens. Named Oxford West End Developments Ltd (OxWED), it acquired land from London and Continental Railways and the council.

Council spokesman Mish Tullar said: "The city council and Nuffield College continue to work together to bring the Oxpens site forward for development.

"Our ambition is to secure a high quality development that will involve creating several hundred homes as well as bringing forward new commercial space that is in short supply across the city.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to create a new neighbourhood that extends Oxford’s city centre beyond Westgate to the river. At this stage we are seeking a great development partner who will be able to fulfil that ambition."