Oxford St. car ban may worsen pollution nearby
Sadiq Khan's plan to ban cars from Oxford Street could inadvertently increase pollution on surrounding roads. A Telegraph report suggests that diverting traffic, particularly diesel vehicles, could raise NO2 levels by as much as 7.4% on adjacent streets. This is a significant new development following the recent final approval for the pedestrianisation project.
The current plan, given final approval by Mayor Sadiq Khan, will pedestrianise the stretch of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, with vehicle access removed by September 2026. This isn't the first attempt; a 2018 plan was blocked by the then-Conservative-run Westminster City Council, citing resident opposition. The new plan is proceeding after Khan established a Mayoral Development Corporation to gain planning powers over the area. The traffic ban will apply to private cars, buses, taxis, scooters, and pedicabs. Service and delivery vehicles will retain access, but only between the hours of midnight and 7:00 AM. To manage the displacement, the 15 bus routes that currently use Oxford Street will be rerouted along nearby Wigmore Street and Henrietta Place. Transport for London (TfL) has calculated that this will increase bus journey times by less than a minute. Concerns about displaced traffic and pollution on adjacent streets have been a consistent theme throughout the consultations. A second public consultation drew 2,700 responses, with the most frequently raised issue being the risk of increased congestion on neighbouring roads. This was followed by concerns about accessibility for people with disabilities. The project is part of a wider ambition to combat the "managed decline" of the famous shopping district, which has seen major retailers like Topshop and Debenhams close in recent years due to the rise of online shopping and the impact of the pandemic. The transformation, designed by architectural firms Hawkins\Brown and East, aims to create a "world-leading urban space" for shopping, leisure, and events, with work continuing until late 2027. Retailers such as IKEA and Selfridges have expressed support for the car-free plans.
