Templars Square
A shopping centre on Between Towns Road in Cowley, Oxford, England.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Templars Square is a shopping centre in Cowley, Oxford, England. The centre occupies a prominent position on Between Towns Road and serves the surrounding Cowley community with retail, food, services, parking and related commercial uses. It was developed during the post-war expansion of planned shopping facilities and opened in May 1965 under the name Cowley Centre. The project reflected contemporary interest in purpose-built town centres and North American-style shopping malls, rather than relying solely on traditional high-street retailing. Its construction also involved the realignment of Between Towns Road. The centre's origins date to proposals made in the late 1950s for a central shopping facility in Cowley. Oxford City Council supported the idea by 1959 and placed restrictions on new shopping development along nearby Cowley Road, helping concentrate commercial growth at the proposed site. The project nevertheless attracted opposition from William Beveridge, who argued that Cowley was not the appropriate location. Construction began in 1960, with the scheme designed by Oxford City Architects E. G. Chandler and Douglas Murray. A six-storey car park opened in 1964, one year before the retail centre itself. Richard Crossman, then Minister of Housing and Local Government, formally opened Cowley Centre in May 1965 at a ceremony attended by more than 300 people. The tenant mix later evolved with changes in British retailing. In 1970, the Sainsbury's store at the northern end of the centre was enlarged, requiring the demolition and nearby reconstruction of a local pub. Sainsbury's subsequently left that location, which was occupied by retailers including Wilkinson and Iceland. The centre adopted the name Templars Square in 1989. By August 2009 it contained 63 retailers and was described as Oxford's largest shopping centre, although this represented a decline from 85 retailers in 2002. The reduction was associated in part with the 2008 financial crisis and wider changes in the retail sector. Woolworths, one of the centre's larger stores, closed in December 2008; the former unit was later occupied by 99p Stores. Despite the recession, trading at the centre was reported to have remained broadly resilient, and occupancy was recorded at 96 percent in June 2010. Templars Square is adjacent to Templars Retail Park. Planning and legal arrangements historically restricted the retail park's activities largely to non-food sales in order to limit direct competition with the shopping centre. A 2010 proposal to relax that restriction and permit a supermarket was opposed by the centre's management; a Sainsbury's superstore subsequently opened at the retail park. The shopping centre also experienced operational and infrastructure issues, including storm damage to part of its glass roof in January 2014. The upper deck of its car park was temporarily closed in 2009 after three people died in falls from it. NewRiver acquired the centre in 2012 and later advanced a redevelopment proposal including approximately 200 homes, shops, two restaurants and a hotel. Planning permission was granted in July 2017, but the redevelopment had not begun by October 2020 and no scheduled start date was then available. In April 2022, NewRiver sold Templars Square to Redevco for £38.8 million. The centre remains an active local shopping destination, with its identity rooted in Cowley's post-war planned retail development and its later adaptation to changing ownership, tenant demand and regeneration expectations.
History
The idea of creating a major shopping facility in central Cowley emerged in the late 1950s, during a period when British towns were experimenting with planned retail centres designed to accommodate post-war population growth and changing consumer habits. By 1959, Oxford City Council had strongly endorsed the proposal and imposed an embargo on new shopping development along nearby Cowley Road. The policy helped direct commercial investment toward the proposed Cowley Centre, although the location was controversial. William Beveridge opposed the project on the grounds that Cowley was unsuitable for such a centre. Construction began in 1960. The development was designed by Oxford City Architects E. G. Chandler and Douglas Murray, drawing on the principles of new-town centres and North American shopping malls. The scheme required the realignment of Between Towns Road and was planned as a self-contained retail environment rather than a conventional street of independently developed shops. Its six-storey car park opened in 1964, providing structured parking before the main retail complex was completed. Cowley Centre opened in May 1965. Richard Crossman, serving as Minister of Housing and Local Government, conducted the official opening, which attracted more than 300 attendees. The centre became an important retail destination for Cowley and the wider Oxford area. In 1970, the Sainsbury's store at the northern end was expanded. The work required the demolition of a nearby pub, which was reconstructed approximately twenty yards away. Sainsbury's later closed its store in the centre, and the premises were subsequently used by Wilkinson and Iceland. The complex was renamed Templars Square in 1989. Its tenant base changed over time in response to consolidation in British retailing, the growth of discount formats and changing consumer patterns. In 2002 the centre reportedly had 85 retailers; by August 2009 the number had fallen to 63. The reduction was attributed partly to the 2008 financial crisis, although the centre's overall trading performance was described as relatively resilient. Woolworths, formerly one of the larger tenants, closed in December 2008, and 99p Stores later occupied the former unit. Occupancy was reported at 96 percent in June 2010. In August 2009, the centre marked two decades under the Templars Square name with a series of events. The centre's relationship with nearby Templars Retail Park has been commercially significant. The retail park was subject to restrictions intended to prevent it from competing directly with the shopping centre in food retailing. In December 2010, a proposal was announced to relax the restriction and permit a supermarket. Centre management opposed the proposal, but the retail arrangement later changed and a Sainsbury's superstore opened at the retail park. Infrastructure and safety issues have also formed part of the centre's later history. In July 2009, the upper deck of the multi-storey car park was temporarily closed after three people died in falls from it. In January 2014, a storm damaged part of the centre's glass roof. NewRiver acquired Templars Square in 2012 and subsequently proposed a substantial mixed-use redevelopment. The plans included about 200 homes, new shops, two restaurants and a hotel. Oxford planning permission was granted in July 2017, but the scheme had not commenced by October 2020 and no start date had been scheduled at that point. In April 2022, NewRiver sold the centre to Redevco for £38.8 million. Templars Square continues to function as a local shopping centre, combining everyday retail and services with its established town-centre location and parking facilities.
- 2022
Redevco becomes owner
[1]NewRiver sold Templars Square to Redevco in April 2022.
- 2017
Mixed-use redevelopment receives planning permission
[1]Planning permission was granted for a scheme involving homes, shops, restaurants and a hotel.
- 2012
NewRiver acquires the centre
[1]NewRiver bought Templars Square and later presented plans for a mixed-use redevelopment.
- 2009
Name anniversary events are held
[1]The centre held events in August 2009 to mark 20 years under the Templars Square name.
- 1989
Cowley Centre is renamed Templars Square
[1]The shopping centre adopted its current name, Templars Square.
- 1970
Sainsbury's store is expanded
[1]The Sainsbury's store at the northern end of the centre was extended, and a nearby pub was demolished and rebuilt close to its original location.
- 1965
Cowley Centre opens
[1]The shopping centre opened in May 1965, with Richard Crossman conducting the official opening ceremony.
- 1964
Multi-storey car park opens
[1]The centre's six-storey car park opened one year before the retail centre.
- 1960
Construction begins
[1]Construction of the development then known as Cowley Centre began, based on plans by Oxford City Architects E. G. Chandler and Douglas Murray.
- 1959
Oxford endorses a Cowley shopping-centre proposal
[1]Oxford City Council gave strong support to the proposed central Cowley shopping development and restricted additional shopping schemes along nearby Cowley Road.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented shopping centre serving Cowley and surrounding areas of Oxford, combining everyday retail, services, food outlets and parking in a purpose-built post-war town-centre setting.
Shopping centre · 1965
Templars Square shopping centre
The core offering is a purpose-built shopping centre serving Cowley and the wider Oxford area. Its tenant mix has historically included grocery, general merchandise, discount retail, food outlets and local services. The centre's role is primarily convenience and community-oriented rather than that of a specialist destination mall.
Shopping-centre facility · 1964
Multi-storey car park
A six-storey car park supports access to the shopping centre and formed part of the original planned development. It opened in 1964, before the retail centre, and remains one of the site's principal supporting facilities.
Brand decisions
2017
Mixed-use redevelopment receives permissionStrategyBackground
After NewRiver acquired the centre in 2012, it developed plans to update the site and add residential and hospitality uses.
Action taken
Planning permission was obtained for approximately 200 homes, shops, two restaurants and a hotel.
Aftermath
The redevelopment had not started by October 2020, and no scheduled start date was then available.
2010
Management opposes supermarket use at Templars Retail ParkStrategyBackground
A proposal was made to relax restrictions that limited the adjacent Templars Retail Park primarily to non-food retail, potentially allowing a supermarket that could compete with Templars Square.
Action taken
Management of Templars Square opposed the proposed change in the retail park's permitted use.
Aftermath
The restriction later changed, and a Sainsbury's superstore opened at the retail park.
Recent events
Sources2 sources
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