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Sadiq Khan was on Tuesday facing a “red on red” battle with Westminster council after the Government promised him new powers to force through the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street.
The Labour mayor wants to reboot plans that would make the “nation’s most famous high street” traffic-free, starting with the stretch between Oxford Circus and Selfridges.
His vision is for a “traffic-free pedestrianised avenue” to compete with Times Square in New York, the Champs-Elysees in Paris and Las Ramblas in Barcelona, and for Oxford Street to become the “leading retail destination in the world”.
A £43m scheme had to be abandoned in 2018 after the then Tory-led council withdrew support due to opposition from residents, who feared surrounding streets being gridlocked with diverted buses, taxis and delivery vehicles.
Labour seized control of the council in 2022 but remains opposed to pedestrianising Oxford Street.
The council only learned of the mayor’s plans several days ago. Some cabinet members were “apoplectic”, the Standard was told.
Nickie Aiken, the former Tory MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, on Monday accused the Mayor and Government of seeking to remove local democracy and “railroad” a scheme without local support.
“I hope [Westminster council] will stand up to this bullying and bring a judicial review,” she tweeted.
The council already has “shovel ready” plans for a £150m transformation of the wider area – including spending £89m on the street itself and a further £25m at Oxford Circus. Crucially, the council scheme involves “maintaining vehicular access on the street”.
Council chief executive Stuart Love promised to “work constructively” with Mr Khan and the Government but said: “The latest pedestrianisation proposal from the Mayor of London was only shared with us last Thursday.
“It will be important to receive further details about what is planned, including how long it could take to be delivered and how the concerns of local residents and users of the street will be addressed.
“We will want to know how they will benefit from any proposals, particularly given the practical challenges pedestrianisation may have for the wider area. Our role will be to ensure that local voices are heard loud and clear.”
Mr Khan wants to see the first changes within two years. He said: “Oxford Street was once the jewel in the crown of Britain’s retail sector, but there’s no doubt that it has suffered hugely over the last decade. Urgent action is needed to give the nation’s most famous high street a new lease of life.”
So this is what @UKLabour gov means by change. Take away local democracy & railroad decisions local people do not support. I hope @leader_wcc & @CityWestminster will stand up to this bullying and bring a judicial review. https://t.co/uE3ikgnBxd
— Nickie Aiken (@twocitiesnickie) September 17, 2024
Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, who was due to visit with Mr Khan, said: “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 plan would require the removal or diversion of about 16 bus routes, including the 98 and the 390, which run the full length of Oxford Street.
It is unclear whether cyclists would be banned. London Cycling Campaign says a cycle track on Oxford Street would be “preferable” but senior figures at City Hall fear that pedestrianised areas would become “deeply unpleasant” if cycling were permitted, due to the high risk of collisions.
Tim Barnes, a former Tory councillor and parliamentary candidate for the Cities of London and Westminster, warned pedestrianisation would be opposed by residents in Marylebone, Mayfair, Soho and Fitzrovia.
“If they’re going to resuscitate the 2018 plan, that Frankenstein’s monster of a proposal, by shooting electricity through it to bring it back from the dead, I can see no reason to think they will be more successful in 2024 than they were six years ago.
“It gets very complicated very quickly. You end up cutting off access for the people who need it most.”
Mr Khan would gain control over Oxford Street by designating it a “mayoral development area”, a move that has Government support.
Council chiefs believe they are gradually turning the fortunes of Oxford Street around, after one in five units were left empty post-pandemic and the street was hit by high-profile departures.
HMV has reopened, Ikea is occupying the former Top Shop store and Waterstones – which once had four bookshops on the street - is returning after eight years as part of a makeover of the flagship John Lewis department store.
The council has also claimed credit for reducing the number of US-style “candy stores” that are suspected of being fronts for money laundering.
But there are concerns about phone snatches, shoplifting and pickpocketing – and fears that removing traffic would make the 1.3-mile long stretch less safe at night.
Cars are already banned from much of Oxford Street. The council’s proposals for Oxford Street are dependent on businesses that belong to the New West End Company, a business improvement district, paying half. Funds have yet to be secured.
Dee Corsi, chief executive of New West End Company, said: “Given the history of past schemes, it is essential that we move swiftly to deliver this project. “We welcome the creation of the mayoral development corporation for Oxford Street. Of course, the devil will be in the detail.”
Peter Ruis, executive director for John Lewis, which has been on Oxford Street since 1864, said: "We're delighted to see the plans announced today to transform 'the nation's high street’ and look forward to welcoming even more visitors to London’s West End.”
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said: “This is very good news for London’s hospitality businesses.
“Not only can we turn Oxford Street into Europe’s biggest plaza lined with pubs, bars and restaurants, we can show it’s possible to solve the planning and licensing barriers to a thriving social scene. The nation’s high street is back in business.”
Karim Fatehi, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce, supported the council's efforts to restore the fortunes of Oxford Street but said there was a need to "go further".
He said: "For this reason, we are pleased that the Mayor of London will now take forward this significant and innovative new scheme to transform Oxford Street."
The timing of the announcement has raised eyebrows as it comes just two days before two council ward by-elections, following the election of two Westminster councillors, Tim Roca and Jessica Toale, to Parliament in the General Election.
The idea of pedestrianising Oxford Street was first suggested in 2004 by the then Lib-Dem London mayoral candidate Simon Hughes.
Mr Khan’s 2017 plans aimed to help Oxford Street’s retailers compete with the growth in online sales and the popularity of indoor shopping malls, such as the capital’s two Westfield shopping centres.
The need to protect against terrorism, in the wake of the 2017 Westminster and London Bridge attacks, was also a factor, with the mayor keen to “design out” the risk posed by “hostile vehicles”.
There was also the belief that extra space would be needed for the increase in visitors expected to result from the opening of the Elizabeth line in May 2022.
Mr Khan did not make any mention of Oxford Street in his 2024 mayoral manifesto.
Before the pandemic, about 200 million people visited the area each year.
Barbara Stoll, director of the Clean Cities Campaign, said: “Cities worldwide have shown that pedestrianisation increases foot traffic, boosts sales, and reduces retail vacancies. This move will reinvigorate central London.”
There are already two mayoral development corporations in London – the London Legacy Development Corporation, which oversees the former Olympic park, and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, which oversees the land beside the new HS2 station.
