Another step has been taken on the long journey towards pedestrianising Oxford Street.
Today (17 June) Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced he will move ahead with plans to pedestrianise part of Oxford Street, after the results of a recent consultation showed that around seven in 10 people support plans to regenerate the major thoroughfare, and that almost two-thirds specifically want to see it pedestrianised.
"The results are in," said Khan, "The vast majority of Londoners and major businesses back our exciting plans for Oxford Street, so I'm pleased to confirm that we will now be moving ahead as quickly as possible."
The consultation had 6,642 responses in all, relatively low perhaps for what would be such a major change for central London.
The results are in. The vast majority of Londoners and major businesses back our exciting plans for Oxford Street, so I'm pleased to confirm that we will now be moving ahead as quickly as possible. pic.twitter.com/U4qLaEiyfS
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) June 17, 2025
Major businesses — including Selfridges, John Lewis and Ikea — also back Khan's plans, which would see the 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch turned into a "traffic-free pedestrianised avenue". Further changes could also be made around Tottenham Court Road.
Importantly, the plans have backing from Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who said: "Proud to support the Mayor of London in delivering this bold and ambitious vision to breathe new life into Oxford Street."
Not everyone is a fan of the proposals, however, including the Soho Society, which has voiced various concerns, ranging from the impracticalities of stemming traffic in the area, to Khan's plan to create a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), dedicated to regenerating the area. "This is not what MDCs are for," claimed the Soho Society.
Nonetheless, the Mayor of London has said he will now progress with steps to establish an MDC, and that detailed traffic and highway proposals will be developed to pedestrianise the section of road between Orchard Street and Oxford Circus up to Great Portland Street. These will then be consulted on later in 2025.
