Statements on Oxford Street

Statement issued on 17 September by Stuart Love, Chief Executive of Westminster City Council:

Westminster City Council has spent the last two years working closely with businesses and resident groups to develop detailed proposals to redesign and improve Oxford Street.  These plans are shovel ready, have had the support of retailers and the local community and were intended to deliver significant economic growth whilst also securing a successful future for our thriving neighbourhoods in the West End.

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. As a custodian of the West End, our role will be to ensure that local voices are heard loud and clear.

 The promise of additional funding for the area is welcome as we are all committed to a successful Oxford Street and thriving wider West End. The Council intends to work constructively with the Mayor and the Government to ensure the best outcomes for local communities, businesses and London.”

The Leader of the Council, Adam Hug, has written to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and  Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, in response to their new plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street. The full letter is available for you to read below:

Document

Letter from Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council PDF, 196.16 KB, 5 pages

Notes: 

• The statement issued 17 September in the name of the chief executive in view of local authority guidelines on elections.
• Westminster City Council has led the transformation of Oxford Street from tackling the scourge of candy shops, supporting new brands to take vacant space with the Meanwhile: On Oxford Street programme, flexing planning policy to welcome new uses such as the MOCA art museum and welcoming new and returning retail brands including HMV, Ikea, Miniso and Waterstones. 
• The Council created a transformative £90m public realm scheme for Oxford Street, half of it was to have been paid for by Oxford Street landowners, with their agreement. This scheme was ready to go. It has been co-produced by and received the strong support of the business community and local residents, with plans to deliver improved public spaces, wider footways, improved seating, more trees and other planting, attractive lighting, clearer signage and reduced congestion across the area. 
• It would deliver these substantial benefits while keeping traffic away from residential areas and maintaining direct bus access to and along Oxford Street, which is important to many shoppers and workers, including particularly the disabled, elderly, families, and those on low incomes. Taxi ranks had been moved into side streets to reduce congestion but retain access for those with mobility issues.
• Westminster’s contractors are already onsite changing traffic flows around Oxford Street in preparation for the main works that were due to start in the spring and conclude by summer 2027, enabling other projects such as the ‘park to park’ transformation of Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus to move forwards.