A Vision Of The West End In 2020

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 164 months ago
A Vision Of The West End In 2020

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Impression of St Giles' Circus redevelopment

The New West End Company presented "West End 2020", its vision of how the central London shopping streets will look a decade hence, at the House of Commons last night.

The key points:

New space for pedestrians, with pavements widened and a reduction in bus traffic between 10am and 4pm, and a dedicated fleet of green shuttle buses linking Marble Arch with Tottenham Court Road
  • Public spaces, including a pavilion outside John Lewis, and more events, including fashion shows for ritzy retailers
  • "Revitalising" the east end of Oxford Street; begone, Golf Sale sign-man! This will also include a scramble crossing at the junction with Tottenham Court Road, to replicate the apparent success of the one at Oxford Circus
  • The introduction of speed lanes along Oxford Street

    The company's lofty ambition can be read in full in this PDF document.

    Evidently rattled by the growth of Westfield shopping malls in east and west London, the company wants to reassert the West End's role as the alpha male in London's retail jungle. Indeed, their sight is on a bigger rival than Stratford or White City: the aim is for London to overtake New York as the world's prime shopping destination. It'll take a lot more than a pavilion, a new crossing, and a couple of green buses to put Oxford Street on a par with Fifth Avenue.

    Last Updated 27 July 2010