£70m Bicester development begins
A major redevelopment of an Oxfordshire town centre has begun.
The £70m project will see new shops, restaurants, a cinema and a supermarket built in Bicester, along with new bus lay-bys and improved parking.
The work will be done in three phases and is due to be completed in early 2012.
Cherwell Councillor Norman Bolster said he hoped it would improve business for existing retailers by attracting more customers.
"The new seven-screen cinema will also provide more entertainment and hopefully improve the night economy," he added.
Ben Jackson, chairman of the Bicester and District Chamber of Trade, said it was "vitally important" to improve the infrastructure in Bicester.
"We lack a theatre, we lack a cinema, we lack a decent-sized library. This all needs to be redressed as the town grows," he added.