London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has confirmed he will move ahead with plans to ban vehicle traffic from Oxford Street as part of the proposed pedestrianisation of the busy shopping road.
An extensive public consultation has found that Londoners and businesses are overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal to pedestrianise Oxford Street, with almost seven in ten of those surveyed expressing support for the plans to regenerate the street.
Almost two-thirds (63%) of Londoners were in favour of pedestrianising Oxford Street, and this figure rose closer to three-quarters (72%) among those who had specifically visited the area in the last year.
The plan to ban traffic from Oxford Street refers specifically to a stretch of road almost one mile long between between Orchard Street and Oxford Circus up to Great Portland Street.
As pedestrianisation plans move ahead, detailed proposals will now be developed for consultation and feedback will be fielded later this year.
Khan said he would also establish a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) dedicated to regenerating the area and ultimately making Oxford Street a world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure and outdoor events. This is planned to be established by 1 January 2026.
He noted that Oxford Street is an area of critical national economic importance, with an estimated annual contribution of £25 billion to London’s economy, but it has suffered in recent years.
“Oxford Street has suffered over many years so urgent action is needed to give our nation’s high street a new lease of life,” Khan said.
“It’s clear that the vast majority of Londoners and major businesses back our exciting plans, so I’m pleased to confirm that we will now be moving ahead as quickly as possible.”
“We want to rejuvenate Oxford Street; establish it as a global leader for shopping, leisure and outdoor events with a world-class, accessible, pedestrianised avenue,” he said.
Major businesses in the Oxford Street area and across the capital also welcomed the plans, including IKEA, Selfridges and John Lewis.
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