Oxford Street Gets Green Light To Pedestrianise From Great Portland Street
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to pedestrianise Oxford Street “as quickly as possible” after “overwhelming public and business support” following a public consultation over plans to ban traffic from London’s central shopping avenue.
More than 6,600 businesses, individuals and groups responded to the formal consultation process on plans announced last year that include full pedestrianisation of a 0.7-mile strip west from Great Portland Street. The western boundary will be Orchard Street, between the western end of Selfridges and the Marble Arch branch of Marks & Spencer, with the latter also due to be redeveloped.
“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,” Khan said in a statement.
The Labour government had previously confirmed that it will approve a mayoral development corporation to take forward plans, and an MDC could now be established in early 2026, including representation from the council, which has opposed the scheme. The £150M project could take until 2027 or later to complete.
Several major retailers on the street, including Ikea, which recently opened a store at Oxford Circus, have backed the mayor. Ikea UK CEO Peter Jelkeby said the pedestrianisation plan was a positive step that would “create a more welcoming and accessible space,” while the New West End Company said the consultation results were an important step forward.
Oxford Street is already largely restricted to general traffic, but 16 London bus routes will have to be modified, and detailed traffic proposals will be released and consulted on later this year.
The idea of pedestrianising Oxford Street has been in the works for many years. Khan planned to impose traffic restrictions there in 2018, though the scheme was later rejected. Zaha Hadid Architects imagined banishing cars from the road in 2018 as part of its Walkable London proposal, and Camille Walala proposed filling the site with blocky street furniture finished in her signature colourful style.
Most recently, plans were put forward to consider transforming the Oxford Circus road junction into two car-free piazzas with trees and seating, in a proposal then led by Westminster City Council and The Crown Estate, with the Royal Institute of British Architects coordinating an international design competition.
There are also UK precedents. Since it excluded vehicles in 1978, Buchanan Street has propelled Glasgow to become the UK’s second-biggest shopping district, while locally, London’s Carnaby Street and Covent Garden are also car-free.
While creating pedestrian zones is almost always controversial, polls in other European cities after shopping streets have banned vehicles have unanimously rejected the return of vehicles.
