More than a kilometer of London's Oxford Street is set to become a traffic-free zone, marking the culmination of years of debate and political maneuvering. The transformation, which took effect on Monday, was facilitated by the establishment of the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC), a mayoral body that sidestepped local council opposition.
The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street had been a contentious issue for successive mayoral administrations, repeatedly stalled by Westminster City Council. Plans first emerged in 2016, with then-Mayor Sadiq Khan including the measure in his manifesto. However, by 2018, the Conservative-controlled Westminster Council rejected the idea following opposition from local residents. This decision was seen as a significant setback, with the then-Mayor calling it a "betrayal."
To break the deadlock, the strategy shifted towards creating a development corporation. This approach, previously used for large regeneration projects like the Olympic Park and Old Oak Common, allowed a mayoral body to take control of the area's development, overriding the local planning authority's powers. The OSDC board includes three Westminster councillors and one from Camden, with the remaining members appointed by the mayor. This move has been criticized by some as anti-democratic, with opponents arguing it disenfranchises local residents.
The leader of Westminster City Council accused Mayor Khan of "cheating the system." Residents also expressed concerns about traffic displacement onto surrounding residential streets. "You just cannot take 30 or 40 bus routes, and then switch them into green neighbourhoods with playgrounds and children, and expect they'll stay the same," said Karen Jones, a local resident of 20 years.
Michael Bolt of the Marylebone Association voiced similar worries, stating, "Wigmore Street is going to be pretty well crushed with traffic, and traffic will then have to move up through Marylebone to try and get through." He lamented the loss of democratic control, contrasting the current situation with 2018 when "54 democratically elected councillors" made the decision.
The creation of the OSDC required approval from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Insiders suggest that the backing of Angela Rayner, who held the position prior to 2024, was crucial. City Hall advisers emphasize that pedestrianisation is part of a broader vision to transform Oxford Street into a cultural and retail destination, a goal they argue necessitated the OSDC's formation.
Nick Bowes, a former mayoral director, noted that the 2024 general election was a turning point, aligning political stars for the project. He acknowledged the controversy surrounding development corporations, especially in established urban areas, but stressed that the economic importance of Oxford Street to both London and the UK as a whole requires a broader perspective than purely local considerations.
Traders like Robin Smith, who runs a stall on Berwick Street, fear the changes could negatively impact the character of the West End. "I think that closing Oxford Street will just move all the buses, the cabs, the motorcycles, the delivering vehicles, and the bicycles on to the backstreets, which are residential," he stated, predicting increased congestion and "misery for anybody living north of Oxford Street."
Councillor Tim Barnes, deputy leader at Westminster Council, expressed concern that the plans are "rushed, and it's felt under-resourced" and "slightly undercooked." He suggested that a better scheme could have been developed with more time.
The application of the development corporation model to a dense, high-value retail and office area like Oxford Street is unprecedented, differing from its use in regenerating under-developed or brownfield land. Observers are watching closely to see if this model can be replicated elsewhere. City Hall advisers consider the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street to be one of Mayor Khan's most significant achievements, alongside the Ultra Low Emission Zone.