London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has announced plans to pedestrianise part of Oxford Street.
The proposals include a 0.7 mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch that would be closed to traffic and would only allow pedestrians, and there’s potential for further changes towards Tottenham Court Road.
Oxford Street is one of the most famous high streets in the world; John Lewis operates its flagship seven-floor store near to Oxford Circus, while Currys also has a store further down the street closer to Tottenham Court Road. But Mr Khan said there was a need for regeneration as the area has been affected by a shift to online shopping and dwindling footfall since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Khan said: “Oxford Street was once the jewel in the crown of Britain’s retail sector, but there’s no doubt that it has suffered hugely over the last decade.”
The project – which is expected to cost around £150 million – was blocked by Westminster City Council under the previous government, but it’s now received backing from Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner. She said the pedestrianisation “will drive growth by creating new jobs, generating economic activity, and giving a much-needed boost to London’s night-time economy”.
The now Labour-run Westminster City Council said it was “blindsided” by the Mayor’s proposals, but said it would “work constructively” towards a solution.
Previous plans for Oxford Street included making wider footways and reorganised roadways to reduce congestion; crucially, however, these plans still allowed bus access, which the Council said was important to shoppers, workers, the elderly, and the disabled.
People have already been voicing their opinions about the plans. Responding to Mr Khan’s post on LinkedIn about his proposals this morning (Tuesday), one user said “Oxford Street is a shell of its former self and this will help it become a much better place to live and work again”. Another said “About time!! This will make a huge difference to the Shopping experience on Oxford St.”
Although, others raised their concerns that pedestrianisation posed significant practical challenges such as increased traffic in surrounding areas, changes to business logistics such as deliveries, and accessibility for workers and visitors.
Oxford Street is one of the busiest shopping areas in the world, with around half a million visitors each day. And while big-name stores like House of Fraser, Debenhams and Topshop are now missing from the central London street, other new stores have opened, including HMV and Ikea.
