Reaching for the sun

In the early 1970s, Oxford modernised itself by knocking down a maze of medieval streets then replacing it with a multi-storey car park and an undistinguished shopping centre, of which this is part.

A decade ago, the authorities put forward a grand plan to demolish and re-site the car park and build a much larger shopping centre in its place. Then came the 2008 financial crisis and both planners and protesters went quiet. But it seems that the economy is picking up again. The car park is now surrounded by hoardings and planning notices are appearing on lamp-posts. I don’t know whether this piece of architecture will survive but if not, I doubt it will be mourned, however appealing I found it in the late afternoon sun.