Mayor confirms next steps to make world-famous Oxford Street traffic-free by the end of this summer
- Mayoral decision last week to proceed with pedestrianisation of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street follows second public consultation with more than 2,700 responses
- The Mayor’s ambition is for the changes to be delivered as quickly as possible, with the street free from traffic by the end of this summer
- The Mayor sets out initial design principles for the transformational scheme, including substantial trees and greenery, and creating a space which can host sporting, cultural and festive events from this year
- Carefully modelled changes will help revitalise the UK's most famous shopping street and make Oxford Street enjoyable for everyone
The transformation of Oxford Street into a pedestrian-friendly, world-class retail and leisure destination is moving rapidly forward after the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today outlined next steps for making road between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street traffic-free by the end of this summer.
Following a Mayoral decision, work to deliver the traffic-free scheme along a stretch of Oxford Street can now start, and once implemented, will help boost the West End economy [1], and create a safer and more pleasant overall experience when shopping, dining or simply exploring the area.
The Mayor has instructed TfL to work at pace to implement the scheme, with the aim to pedestrianise the first section by the end of summer.
Today the Mayor is also announcing initial principles which will be used to inform the design and shape of the transformational scheme.
The Mayor is creating a bold vision for the street that builds on and enhances its unique character, identity, and cultural heritage, transforming it into a place that Londoners and visitors alike can enjoy and explore.
Oxford Street will be welcoming to all with increased seating and rest areas, good lighting, clear signage, and CCTV. Working with community groups and the Met Police, public safety will be prioritised, including the safety of women and girls.
This scheme will also be sustainably designed, using low carbon materials and with the addition of more trees and planting.
The Mayor wants to see the street filled with more trees and areas for people to sit down and children to play. Oxford Street will be able to host world-class events, from sports events, to fashion and culture, and be at the heart of Christmas and other festive activities. It is hoped that the traffic-free street will be used for events as soon as this year.
Oxford Street is the nation’s high street, home to iconic British and international brands and is an area of critical national economic importance. It is the flagship destination in London's Central Activities Zone (CAZ) with an estimated annual contribution of £22.75bn.
Once delivered, the scheme will see the section of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street closed to private motorised vehicles, buses, taxis and private hire vehicles, cycles, scooters and pedicabs. The scheme has been specifically designed to ensure that emergency services can access the street at all times, and that servicing vehicles will be able to access the traffic-free area from midnight to 07:00 to support local businesses and retailers.
The Mayor has an ambition for the changes to be delivered as quickly as possible, with the section of the road between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street potentially traffic free by the end of summer. Once traffic has been diverted away from Oxford Street, TfL, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the newly established Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) will then begin work to deliver on the Mayor’s ambitions to make it a more attractive location for pedestrians, working with those who live in, work in, and visit the area to ensure it meets their needs.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Following strong support from Londoners and businesses, I’ve asked the team to move at pace with plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street this summer so we can deliver a vibrant, world-class, accessible destination.
“I want this stretch of Oxford Street to be transformed into a pedestrian plaza – a space designed to host world-class events, from sport to culture and fashion, as well as exciting new retail and leisure experiences, with the street also able to host some fantastic events as soon as this year.
"It’s important that the new design builds on and enhances Oxford Street’s unique character, identity and cultural heritage, creating a place that Londoners and visitors alike can enjoy and explore, and that will be green and welcoming to all.
“Revitalising Oxford Street will help to super-charge regeneration, boosting growth, jobs, and economic activity. I can’t wait to start delivering these bold plans to unlock the full potential of the nation’s high street, as we continue building a better London for everyone.“
Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, Steve Reed said: “Oxford Street is at the heart of our thriving capital for tourists, shoppers, and workers alike and the Mayor has our full support in making this bold and ambitious vision a reality.”
Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, said: “It's great that we are now proceeding with pedestrianisation along Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, following the publication of the consultation report for the required highways and traffic changes. We are confident that these plans will make Oxford Street and the surrounding area more attractive and thriving for residents as well as for visitors and businesses, and are committed to monitoring the impacts of any changes on the local area and would work with residents and other groups to mitigate any issues.
“In the coming months, we’ll work to implement changes to the roads around Oxford Street to allow for proposed bus changes to be implemented. We’ll also begin work along Oxford Street to prepare the road for pedestrianisation, which will allow the transformational scheme to be delivered as quickly as possible.”
Nabeel Khan, OSDC Chief Executive, said: “We have a bold and unifying vision to transform Oxford Street into a safer, greener and more welcoming place where everyone feels they belong. Our plans put public safety first, including the safety of women and girls, and champion inclusive design so the street works for everyone. This will result in a more resilient public realm with more planting, sustainable materials and spaces where people can spend time, whether to meet, shop or relax.
This is about restoring the energy and confidence of one of London’s most important economic and cultural destinations - and delivering a world-class Oxford Street for Londoners, workers, businesses and visitors for the long term.”
Dee Corsi, Chief Executive, New West End Company, said: "New West End Company has represented West End businesses for over two decades, delivering everything from London’s largest private on-street security team to Oxford Street’s world-famous Christmas lights. We understand the complexity of this environment, and the scale of the opportunity at hand.
“As a member of the Oxford Street Development Corporation, we’ll continue working closely with the Mayor, Westminster City Council and other partners, including the Metropolitan Police Service, to ensure our local expertise helps shape a scheme which works in practice - for businesses, communities, and the wider West End.
"Oxford Street has evolved significantly in recent years, and an enhanced public realm is a critical component in its ongoing transformation. If we get this right, we can truly unlock Oxford Street's full potential.”
John Dickie, Chief Executive at BusinessLDN, said: “Removing traffic from Oxford Street is an important step in reinvigorating Oxford Street as a world-leading retail and leisure destination. Last year’s traffic free day boosted footfall and spending, showing that making Oxford Street a more attractive destination will provide a shot in the arm to the capital’s economy. It is good to see the Mayor and the new Development Corporation move at pace, following last year’s consultation, to deliver this modernisation. Delivering the full benefits of investment in Oxford Street will involve the Development Corporation working closely with nearby landowners, particularly around Marble Arch and Regent Street, over their plans to revitalise the whole of this part of the West End.”
Clive Wood, Lead Policy & Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs said: “We are delighted that the Mayor’s plans to pedestrianise large areas of Oxford Street are moving forward at pace. For vision impaired people this will make an iconic location more inclusive, safe and welcoming. There are approximately 214,000 Londoners living with sight loss and thousands of others who visit the capital every year and so we welcome this news and look forward to being involved in further stakeholder engagement. As a vision impaired person myself, I look forward to exploring all that Oxford Street has to offer with more space for pedestrians, without having to navigate road traffic.”
Peter Ruis, Partner and Managing Director, John Lewis, said: "We’re delighted to see the plans to revitalise the nation's high street progressing. As we invest significantly in our flagship John Lewis Oxford Street store, including reintroducing the iconic Topshop, we’re excited to see this bold vision come to life. We’re looking forward to Oxford Street becoming a vibrant, green and world-class destination for visitors."
Allen Simpson, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: "Oxford Street has the potential to be a world-leading destination for hospitality, leisure and tourism, and it's great to see this transformation happening at pace.
"The hospitality-led regeneration of one of the world's most famous streets will be a real boost for hospitality, Londoners and its millions of visitors, and I'm pleased to support the Mayor's work on this exciting project."
Meave Wall, Executive Director of Retail, Selfridges, said: “We welcome the revitalised vision for Oxford Street and the commitment to its future. We all want to see a vibrant and thriving high street that benefits and serves our community and supports the long-term growth of the West End.”
Priorities for the new design include:
- Creating a bold, unifying vision for the whole street that builds on and enhances its unique character, identity, and cultural heritage, transforming it into a place that Londoners and visitors alike can enjoy and explore.
- Championing inclusive design, ensuring Oxford Street is welcoming to all through improved amenities, increased seating, and better wayfinding for visitors.
- Future‑proofing the public realm and prioritising sustainability through climate‑resilient design, including the addition of more trees and planting, and the prioritisation of low carbon materials.
- Prioritising public safety, including the safety of women and girls, ensuring these groups actively inform the design and going beyond lighting improvements.
The designs will create a variety of spaces that support a wide range of activities -from open plazas for gathering and events to smaller places designed to ensure that Londoners and visitors have space for rest and respite. The proposed changes will also strengthen connections to the side streets and surrounding neighbourhoods, improving access to the many shops, cafés, and restaurants that contribute to the area’s rich urban context.