Sir Sadiq Khan is to press ahead with the part-pedestrianisation of Oxford Street after joking that he had secured ‘North Korean’ levels of support from Londoners.
The changes will involve more of the road being closed to traffic than first thought - the eastern section between Oxford Circus and Great Portland Street, in front of the new Ikea store, in addition to the western section between Oxford Circus and the western edge of Selfridges.
But the Oxford Circus junction itself will not be pedestrianised, The Standard has learned, as buses will continue to run north-south on Regent Street.
The decision to move to the next stage in changing the layout of the nation’s nest-known high street comes after Sir Sadiq said he had received “overwhelming” backing from residents and businesses who took part in a nine-week consultation, with two-thirds of respondents in favour.
Speaking to The Standard on Tuesday, the mayor said: “These are North Korean-type results. It’s quite remarkable. Somebody is going to rename me Kim [Jong Un, the North Korean dictator] soon, but I am really pleased and proud.
“In terms of our consultation, almost 7,000 responded – and seven out of 10 support our bold plans to regenerate this iconic street…. I’m impatient to see progress on this street.”
The £150m plans will now progress to detailed solutions on how best to remove or divert 16 bus routes from Oxford Street.
These more detailed proposals – covering almost a mile of Oxford Street - will be published later this year.
It may take until 2027 or later before the changes are introduced. Sir Sadiq will be keen to ensure they are in place before his third mayoral term ends in May 2028.
City Hall announced that the area to be pedestrianised would extend further east than first expected, to Great Portland Street.
The western boundary will be Orchard Street, between the western end of Selfridges and the Marble Arch branch of Marks & Spencer.
The street will effectively be pedestrianised in blocks, with some traffic allowed to cross north-south.
Asked about Oxford Circus, Sir Sadiq said: “Orchard Street to Great Portland Street may be the first phase.
“I think you have got to phase this street – you can’t do it all in one big bang. We will ask the designers and planners to come up with the proposals, and we will consult on those, and make sure the plans we have for phase one are the best possible plans we can have.”
Oxford Street is one of the world's busiest shopping areas, with around half a million visitors each day, and is regarded as the “nation’s high street”.
City Hall will deliver the changes by establishing a Mayoral Development Corporation by January 1 next year, effectively claiming planning and money-raising powers currently held by Westminster and Camden councils.
Selfridges, John Lewis and Ikea welcomed the plans, which aim to continue the recent revival of Oxford Street and encourage outdoor events and al-fresco dining.
However, residents have already raised concerns about the impact on parallel roads to the north Oxford Street, such as Wigmore Street and Mortimer Street.
Cyclists would be banned from the pedestrianised area, though potentially only during core trading hours.
Asked about his plans to ban cyclists from the pedestrianised sections of Oxford Street, Sir Sadiq told The Standard: “I don’t apologise for wanting this street to be for pedestrians only.
“That means that if you are a really fit cyclist like me and you want to cycle down here, you’ve got to go round.
“What you don’t want, and we have all done it in shared spaces, is to be walking and there’s been a cycle whizzing past, or you’re pushing a buggy or a wheelchair and there’s a cyclist whizzing past.
“If you’re a cyclist, you don’t really mind doing a right or a left [turn] and going down the parallel streets to get to the other side.”
Private cars are already banned from much of Oxford Street, meaning the bulk of the traffic consists of buses, taxis and delivery vehicles.
A total of 6,642 responses were received to the consultation, which ran between February and May.
Respondents were asked for their views on two issues - the designation of a Mayoral Development Area, which won 69 per cent support, and the principle of pedestrianising Oxford Street, which was backed by 66 per cent.
Subject to approval by the cross-party London Assembly, Sir Sadiq will “work with the government” to draft the necessary legislation for the mayoral development corporation to be established by January 1.
Sir Sadiq said: “Oxford Street has suffered over many years so urgent action is needed to give our nation’s high street a new lease of life.
“We want to rejuvenate Oxford Street; establish it as a global leader for shopping, leisure and outdoor events with a world-class, accessible, pedestrianised avenue.”
Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, said: “We want to see Oxford Street become the thriving place to be for tourists and Londoners alike, and that’s why we welcome the Mayor of London’s bold proposals to achieve that.
“We will support the Mayor in delivering this ambitious vision, which will help to breathe new life into Oxford Street – driving investment, creating new jobs for local people, and providing a boost to economic growth in the capital in line with our Plan for Change.”
But the City Hall Conservatives condemned the request to the London Assembly to formally establish a Mayoral Development Corporation, saying Sir Sadiq had provided "no tangible plans, timetable, funding arrangements, or safety assessments".
Andrew Boff , City Hall Conservatives' planning spokesman, said: "This is nothing short of a blatant power grab from local authorities and sets an extremely worrying precedent for planning in London.
"The mayor is essentially asking for a blank cheque to reshape one of the world's most important shopping districts without having the courtesy to explain what he actually intends to do.
"Khan knows his time is running out and that the recent spending review has torpedoed many of his grand schemes. This desperate attempt to secure a legacy by bulldozing through proper planning procedures shows just how out of touch he has become with Londoners' real priorities.
"Local councils and residents deserve to know exactly what is being proposed before any powers are handed over. This backwards approach of demanding authority first and consultation second makes a mockery of democratic accountability."
Sir Sadiq’s decision last September to rekindle previously abandoned plans for Oxford Street came with the Government’s backing but were bitterly opposed at the time by Labour-run Westminster council.
The council – which like other London boroughs faces re-election in May 2026 – has since promised to work with the mayor.
If the council is regained by the Conservatives next year under a residents backlash, this could potentially lead to delays and legal challenges.
Cllr Adam Hug, Labour leader of Westminster council, said: “While the mayor’s formal decision today was not the City Council’s preferred outcome, it is far from unexpected, and it is now important for Oxford Street’s future to move forward together.
“Since the Mayor’s new approach was made public last autumn, Westminster has worked pragmatically and productively with the Greater London Authority to ensure that the plan for Oxford Street more closely meets the needs of businesses, visitors, and residents.
“For example, our agreements with the GLA, made in February this year, included delivering a transformation east of Oxford Circus very similar in nature to Westminster’s original plans (retaining bus access), enhancing security along the whole street and reducing freight traffic in the wider area.
“Subject to final decisions on representation, Westminster City Council intends to maintain a strong voice within the Mayoral Development Corporation on behalf of all our stakeholders and particularly the 12,000 people who call the West End home.”
Ikea’s UK chief executive Peter Jekelby said: “The plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street is a positive step, which we believe will create a more welcoming and accessible space – bringing wide-ranging benefits to visitors, shoppers, businesses and the wider community.”
In 2017 there were 130 buses per hour between Selfridges and Regent Street. This has fallen to 35 buses an hour, according to David Rowe, TfL's director of infrastructure planning.
Selfridges executive director Meave Wall said: “Selfridges has thrived on Oxford Street for well over 100 years, and we're hugely energised by the renewed commitment to make this area more enticing and attractive for locals and visitors from around the world.
“The community's support and enthusiasm is really encouraging, and we are excited to play our part in shaping a brighter future for this iconic shopping and entertainment hub.”
John Lewis managing director Peter Ruis said: “We welcome the mayor's plans for the regeneration and pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, where John Lewis has been a key retailer for over 160 years.
“We continue to invest significantly in our Oxford Street store - including a new beauty hall, a Waterstones bookshop and the new Jamie Oliver Cookery School - and believe pedestrianisation will create a vibrant, thriving shopping environment.”
Camden council leader Cllr Richard Olszewski, said: “This is a hugely significant development for central London.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Mayor and other stakeholders to develop these proposals and work up in more detail the operational aspects of the proposed development corporation. These proposals are also set to benefit neighbouring areas like Fitzrovia and Holborn.”
