London’s Oxford Street could go traffic-free under mayor’s plan
London’s Oxford Street, home to some of the British capital’s most famous shops from Selfridges to Marks & Spencer, could be pedestrianised to attract more shoppers under a plan announced by city mayor Sadiq Khan on Tuesday.
If approved, Oxford Street would join other major shopping hubs such as Times Square in New York and La Rambla in Barcelona that have gone fully traffic-free.
A previous version of the plan to ban vehicles from the 1.2-mile (1.9 km) thoroughfare was blocked by the local Westminster City Council, but the revived project has received backing from Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Rayner said the plan would drive growth, create new jobs and generate economic activity.
“The difference this time is, I’ve got the support of central government, and that means if … there was opposition from the council, we’d have the powers to proceed with good plans,” Khan told Reuters.
Oxford Street attracts around half a million visitors every day, according to the mayor’s office, but many flagship stores including House of Fraser and Topshop have shut in recent years.
The area, like many bricks-and-mortar shops, has struggled to recover footfall since the COVID-19 pandemic saw many people turn to online shopping and fewer return to the office.
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