Sadiq Khan has today launched his £150million plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street despite warnings it could become a crime-ridden ‘no-go area’.
The Labour Mayor of London wants work to start within two years to remove all vehicles from the famous shopping street.
Oxford Street is one of the world’s busiest shopping areas, with around half a million visitors each day.
Now Mr Khan launches a public consultation – which is open from February 28 to May 2 – on his proposals which would see 0.7-mile stretch pedestrianised.
The plans would span between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, with the potential for further changes towards Tottenham Court Road.
Industry leaders previously called for ‘strong safety measures’ to accompany the plans, given there are fears it could increase crimes such as shoplifting and pickpocketing.
There are also calls for more ‘adequate policing’ and improved public transport access, with evening revellers and particularly women possibly more at risk from no passing traffic – given regular buses and taxis can act as a deterrent to criminal activity.
A previous attempt by Mr Khan to ban traffic from the road was blocked by then-Conservative run Westminster City Council in 2018 amid opposition from locals who feared traffic gridlock on the surrounding streets.
However, Mr Khan said the plans are ‘designed to unlock the true potential’ of Oxford Street and urged people to put their opinion forward during the consultation period.
A series of plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street have been proposed in previous decades – but none have ever got off the ground.
One of the most unusual was a monorail which would have run on a track 50ft above shoppers.
The idea was drawn up in 2012 by engineers KBR for a system to run the mile-length of the street and link it with Piccadilly Circus.
Lord Rogers, the Mayor’s leading architectural adviser at the time, presented the idea to business leaders and said a similar system had worked well in Sydney.
But it was never taken forward – and the Sydney monorail ceased operating in June 2013.
Another plan for Oxford Street unveiled in 2008 by former mayor Ken Livingstone was a £200million tram system, which would have also seen the road pedestrianised.
Mr Livingstone wanted the system in place by 2018, but it never went forward amid a series of issues including concerns over overcrowding and insufficient space for the construction of a tram depot.
A further unusual proposal to pedestrianise the street was a plan in 1982 to build a flyover for buses and taxis which would dip down to street level at Oxford Circus.
The scheme, which was estimated to cost £47million in 1982 prices, would have avoided having to divert vehicles onto side streets – but concerns were raised about its viability and it never happened.
Going even further back, a report in the 1960s suggested dropping the road slightly into a shallow depression and raising the shopping level up by 20ft.
But the study, by Professor Sir Colin Buchanan, concluded that it was already too late for such a major reconstruction of the street – and the plan only ever remained at the idea stage.
The London mayor said: ‘Oxford Street has been known as the nation’s high street but the area has suffered in recent years.
‘My proposals are designed to unlock the true potential of Oxford Street and deliver a world-class, accessible, clean, avenue. These proposals would help to restore this famous part of the capital and support good businesses, while creating new jobs and boosting growth.
‘I encourage everyone to have their say on these proposals, which would transform Oxford Street into a place Londoners and the whole of the country can be proud of as we continue to build a better London for everyone.’
Restrictions already in place mean between 7am and 7pm vehicular access to parts of Oxford Street is limited to taxis and buses, except on Sundays.
The impact on cyclists of Mr Khan’s plan is not yet clear, with more detail on the plans awaited.
But the redevelopment is set to require 16 bus routes to be removed or diverted – including the 98 and 390 which run the full length of Oxford Street.
Restrictions already in place mean between 7am and 7pm vehicular access to parts of Oxford Street is limited to taxis and buses, except on Sundays.
After the plans were first announced Steve McNamara, general secretary of the London Taxi Drivers’ Association, raised concerns about crime, saying his members had ‘lost all confidence’ in the police’s ability to keep Oxford Street safe.
He told the Daily Telegraph: ‘Of course, that’s compounded by the level of street crime that they witness on a daily basis.
‘The big thing that our members witness on a daily basis is phone snatches in London. And so they’re thinking, well, what’s the point in me ringing up and reporting that when nobody’s doing anything about it?’
Julie Redmond from the Marylebone Association group warned pedestrianising Oxford Street would have ‘several negative impacts on residents in the surrounding areas’.
She told of an ‘increase in traffic congestion on nearby residential streets, more noise and air pollution in quieter areas, affecting the quality of life for those living there’.
Ms Redmond added that the ‘influx of more visitors and shoppers will lead to overcrowding and more crime’, while ‘elderly residents, people with disabilities and families will also face reduced access to their homes’.
The street has been flooded with thefts and violence in recent years.
The Mayor hopes to reboot plans for a ‘traffic-free pedestrianised avenue’ similar to the Champs-Elysees in Paris and Barcelona’s Las Ramblas.
The proposal is part of a wider regeneration project which Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner claimed will give the popular shopping district ‘the boost it needs’.
Oxford Street has suffered from big name exits in recent years, leaving boarded-up storefronts and a proliferation of tacky US-style sweet shops – but there are hopes it is finally bouncing back with the reopening of HMV and a forthcoming new Ikea.
The scheme aims to improve one of the world’s busiest shopping zones for workers, residents, shoppers and tourists in an area which has about 500,000 daily visitors.
Mr Khan’s latest proposal depends on him obtaining permission from Ms Rayner in her role as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to establish a new Mayoral Development Corporation, which would provide planning powers.
This request can only be made following a statutory period of consultation and consideration by the London Assembly.
Ms Rayner said: ‘Oxford Street is a world-renowned shopping destination and we want it to stay that way. By working with the mayor and local leaders, we can ensure it gets the boost it needs.
‘This plan to revitalise Oxford Street will drive growth by creating new jobs, generating economic activity, and giving a much-needed boost to London’s night-time economy.’
The project is expected to cost around £150million, with City Hall officials hoping it could be paid for by a combination of local businesses, new revenue streams and private funders.
A press release issued by Mr Khan also quoted Councillor Richard Olszewski, Leader of Camden Council, saying: ‘The London-wide and national economic benefits of such a scheme are there to be seen for residents and visitors alike, as are wider benefits for air quality and health and wellbeing. ‘
And CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Karim Fatehi OBE saying: ‘We welcome these ambitious plans to revitalise Oxford Street as one of the world’s foremost shopping destinations by improving the visitor experience and increasing footfall.
‘This consultation is a great opportunity for businesses to have their say to ensure the proposals work for them, and we urge businesses of all sizes to participate and help shape this exciting transformation to drive tourism and economic growth in the area.’
A further statement within the press release cam Dee Corsi, chief executive of the New West End Company, who said: ‘We have long championed the regeneration of Oxford Street, recognising its vital importance to London and the UK economy.
‘With significant private sector investment already driving change, Oxford Street is evolving.
‘It has always been a much-loved destination, attracting Londoners and visitors from around the world.
And a quote from Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: ‘The exciting plans for Oxford Street would turn it into one of Europe’s biggest plazas.
‘With pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants taking centre stage, we hope we can showcase, on one of the world’s most famous streets, how it’s possible to break down planning and licensing barriers to generate a thriving social scene.’
There was also a statement from John Dickie, CEO of BusinessLDN, who said: ‘Oxford Street is London’s flagship high street and an attraction for visitors from across the country and all over the globe.
‘As a key strategic site that spans borough boundaries, the Mayor has an important role to play in investing in and helping to improve the area for the benefit of Londoners, businesses and visitors.’