Plans to ban traffic on Oxford Street announced

Plans to pedestrianise portion of London's Oxford Street person been announced by the capital's politician Sadiq Khan.

Mr Khan said "urgent action" is needed to regenerate the celebrated precocious street, which was has been affected by a displacement to online buying and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Oxford Street was erstwhile the jewel successful the crown of Britain’s retail sector, but there’s nary uncertainty that it has suffered hugely implicit the past decade."

Under the connection a 0.7 mile (1.1km) agelong would beryllium pedestrianised betwixt Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, with the imaginable for further changes towards Tottenham Court Road.

The proposal, which was blocked by the erstwhile Conservative-controlled Westminster City Council for its unpopularity with residents, has received backing from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner

She said the pedestrianisation "will thrust maturation by creating caller jobs, generating economical activity, and giving a much-needed boost to London’s night-time economy.”

The program volition beryllium connected Mr Khan gaining support from Ms Rayner arsenic housing, communities and section authorities caput to found a caller Mayoral Development Corporation, which would supply readying powers and let the politician to overrule the council.

The task is expected to outgo astir £150m, with City Hall officials hoping section businesses, backstage funders and caller gross streams could ft the bill.

The present Labour-run Westminster City Council, which is liable for the cardinal London street, said it was blindsided by Mr Khan's plans - lone uncovering retired details connected Thursday - but it would "work constructively" with the mayor.

Stuart Love, Westminster City Council main executive, said pedestrianisation posed "practical challenges" and it was waiting for details connected "how agelong it could instrumentality to beryllium delivered and however the concerns of section residents and users of the thoroughfare volition beryllium addressed".

The assembly said it already developed a ready to spell £90m plan, half-paid for by landowners, to present wider footways and reduced congestion.

But crucially their program would support nonstop autobus entree to Oxford Street which they said was important to shoppers, workers, disabled, elderly, and those connected debased incomes.

Oxford Street is 1 of the world’s busiest buying areas, with astir fractional a cardinal visitors each day.

Leading brands specified arsenic Topshop, House of Fraser and Debenhams person disappeared from the cardinal London thoroughfare successful caller years, with the pandemic, hybrid moving and US-themed saccharine stores putting unit connected the street's popularity.

But the New West End Company, a concern of businesses and spot owners successful the West End, said successful a study this twelvemonth footfall has been boosted by the Elizabeth enactment and Oxford Street has managed to pull caller flagship stories similar Ikea and HMV.