Final approval for the plans has been given by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been talked about for years, and was previously blocked by Westminster Council, but now it’s finally happening as Sadiq Khan has authorised the plans. The £150m scheme will see the area from Great Portland Street to Orchard Street pedestrianised, creating space for outdoor events and al fresco dining.
The final approval comes following two public consultations. The first saw two in three respondents supporting the removal of traffic from the street, and the second, which finished in January and was focused around traffic diversions, resulted in the majority agreeing with the plans, though there had been more opposition this time round, with congestion on the side roads being cited as a concern.
With the opening of IKEA on Oxford Street, the area is undergoing a revival, and businesses including John Lewis and Selfridges have welcomed the pedestrianisation plans. There are those who are less enthusiastic about the scheme though, like Steve McNamara, the general secretary of the LTDA (which represents black-cab drivers), who believes removing traffic from Oxford Street will increase congestion in the city.
No changes to the plans have been made following the final public consultation, meaning that the stretch of road from Great Portland Street to Orchard Street will be closed to cars, buses, taxis, pedicabs, scooters and cyclists; service vehicles will be allowed to access the traffic-free area from midnight to 7am to support local businesses; wider pedestrian crossings will be installed at the junctions where traffic would cross the pedestrianised section; buses will be re-routed along Wigmore Street and Henrietta Place; new bus stops, taxi ranks and drop-off locations will be provided as close to the pedestrianised area as possible; and more alternative cycling routes will be provided.
Announcing the approval on Thurs 26th February, Khan said: “I am delighted to be moving forward with my bold vision to transform Oxford Street into a world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure and outdoor events.
“Following TfL’s detailed consultation, I’ve today made the decision to move ahead with these exciting changes to the nation’s high street. We will outline more details in the coming days, as we continue building a better more prosperous London for everyone.”
Traffic will be banned from that section of Oxford Street by September, with additional work to improve the street for pedestrians following from then.
