Oxford Street Goes Pedestrian-Only

This isn't the first attempt to pedestrianize Oxford Street; a previous plan by Mayor Sadiq Khan was blocked in 2018 by the then-Conservative-run Westminster City Council. To overcome this hurdle, the mayor established a new Mayoral Development Corporation, which grants his office planning powers and control over the road, a move previously held by the council. A primary driver for the vehicle ban is the street's notoriously poor air quality. At one point, researchers from King's College London recorded peak nitrogen dioxide levels on Oxford Street that were the "highest in the world," reaching more than 11 times the EU's safety limit. The toxic air has been largely attributed to the high volume of diesel-powered buses and taxis. The economic case for the transformation is significant, with projections suggesting it could generate an additional £135.82 million in visitor spending over a 20-year period. A one-day traffic-free trial in September offered a glimpse of the potential benefits, boosting footfall by 45% compared to the previous week and resulting in nearly 70% of surveyed stores reporting similar or higher sales than a typical Sunday. However, the proposal faces opposition from some local groups. The Marylebone Association has described the plans as "dangerous, unworkable and catastrophic for the surrounding neighbourhoods," fearing that rerouted traffic will cause chaos on residential streets. They also raise concerns about the removal of "natural surveillance" from traffic, potentially making the area more vulnerable to crime and antisocial behavior. The current Labour-run Westminster City Council, while historically opposed, has shifted its stance to ensure the plan works for local communities. Its leader, Adam Hug, has worked with the mayor to secure improvements, including ensuring the eastern part of Oxford Street retains bus access and that resident voices are heard on the new development board. The initial phase this summer will see traffic banned on the western stretch of the street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. This will require the rerouting of 15 bus routes, primarily to Wigmore Street which runs parallel to the north. The long-term vision is to eventually make the entire 1.2-mile thoroughfare a pedestrian-only zone.