London mayor Sadiq Khan and Westminster City Council have announced plans to create ‘world-class public spaces’ by fully pedestrianising a section of Oxford Street by the end of next year.
The mayor’s office said the plans, which are now subject to consultation, would turn the area into the world’s best outdoor shopping experience and ‘create new traffic-free public spaces in the heart of London to rival other world cities such as Paris and New York’.
The plans were unveiled on Monday (6 November) by Mr Khan and Robert Davis MBE, deputy leader of Westminster City Council
The proposals would see all east-west traffic restricted from entering Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Oxford Circus, while maintaining north-south routes through that section.
The carriageway would be raised to be level with the existing pavements, making the area more accessible.
This first stage scheme, covering ‘Oxford Street West’, aims to coincide with launch of Elizabeth line (Crossrail) services through central London in December 2018.
Mr Khan said: 'This is a hugely exciting moment for the capital. Oxford Street is world famous with millions of visitors every year, and in just over a year the iconic part of the street west of Oxford Circus could be transformed into a traffic-free pedestrian boulevard.'
Cllr Davis said: ‘With the opening of the Elizabeth line next year and expected increase in visitor numbers, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform the Oxford Street district into the world’s best outdoor shopping experience and an unrivalled place to live, work and visit.’
Under the plans, new seating would be placed along the street while a new 800m-long work of public art could also be commissioned for the length of the former carriageway, ‘acting as a centrepiece for the transformed street’.
TfL has been working since summer 2016 to reduce the number of buses operating along Oxford Street by 40%. With the opening of the Elizabeth line, this number would be reduced further.
New and extended taxi ranks would be created close to Oxford Street to allow black cabs to continue to pick up and drop off.
The mayor’s office said that while cyclists would need to dismount when travelling along this section of Oxford Street, TfL and Westminster City Council are committed to providing cycling improvements in the surrounding area, with a consultation on new cycle routes along quieter roads to the north and south of Oxford Street due in Summer 2018.
A consultation on the plans for Oxford Street West runs until 17 December 2017.
Plans for Oxford Street come in three phases
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
