A row has broken out over a council’s decision to “cave in” and hand control of Oxford Street to Sir Sadiq Khan.
The move, which was rubber-stamped by a Labour councillor on Wednesday, will mean control of the street will formally pass to the London mayor on Saturday.
This paves the way for the UK’s most famous high street to be part-pedestrianised – between Selfridges and Ikea – probably at some stage in 2027 or 2028.
Under the move, Transport for London will replace Westminster council as the highway authority for the full length of Oxford Street, between Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road.
This will mean the mayor will be responsible for fixing potholes on the road, unblocking drains, clearing up after vehicle collisions, and maintaining traffic lights and bus stops.
TfL will also gain legal powers over sections of 36 side roads, including parts of Regent Street, New Bond Street and Marylebone Lane.
City Hall says this should allow Transport for London to press ahead with the mayor’s £150m plan to part-pedestrianise Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street.
Almost seven in 10 respondents to a TfL consultation backed the changes to the street.
But the handover – as well as the pedestrianisation of the street - is opposed by the Conservative opposition on Westminster council.
Paul Fisher, a Tory councillor, said: “We are going to keep fighting against it.”
Tory councillors were furious that Labour-run Westminster council “caved in” to the mayor and designated the transfer of responsibilities as a “non-key decision” – meaning it could not be properly scrutinised or debated.
My @Conservatives colleague, Cllr @PaulEFishr, and I were out on #oxfordstreet on Tuesday to put in context how it and the side streets will be messed up me the Mayor is looking to pull all in to his control.
— Timothy Barnes (@VoteTimBarnes) September 11, 2025
His outrageous plan is not being resisted by the failing #Labour… pic.twitter.com/zv8oCvxXmW
Tim Barnes, a Tory councillor in Westminster, said it was “totally outrageous and absurd” that the mayor was effectively turning Oxford Street into a “Red Route” – TfL’s network of strategic roads across London.
Cllr Barnes said: “The purpose of a Red Route is to remove obstacles in order to free up the flow of traffic. His plan to pedestrianise it will do the complete opposite.”
He added: “The mayor’s desire for this vanity project of pedestrianising Oxford Street is leading him to ride roughshod over legal process, over the usual normalities of democracy and over the wishes and desires of residents and local businesses. It’s quite bizarre and utterly outrageous.”
According to Sir Sadiq’s mayoral decision form, removing traffic from part of Oxford Street – which is expected to be a precursor for full pedestrianisation – “could result in an improved public realm” and create a “safe and welcoming environment”.
The GLA says the cost of becoming the highway authority for Oxford Street “cannot yet be quantified”.
Street cleaning and refuse collection will remain the responsibility of Westminster council. Residents’ parking permits should be unaffected.
The handover will come a day before a car-free day that the mayor hopes will showcase his wider vision for the street.
Last week, The Standard revealed that Sir Sadiq had offered a £200,000 salary for the new role of Oxford Street chief executive – almost £30,000 more than he earns himself, as the best-paid politician in the UK.
Sir Sadiq hopes the Government will approve the establishment of a mayoral development corporation for Oxford Street from January 1, 2026, which will provide him with planning and money-raising powers over the area.
Sir Sadiq said: “I have been working closely with Westminster City Council and I am delighted the process to hand over control of the nation’s high street, Oxford Street has been completed, ensuring that Transport for London will become the highway authority for the road from this Saturday, 20 September.
“I have signed a Mayoral Decision which has allowed orders to be made confirming the redesignation of the road. This is a significant step forward on my pledge to pedestrianise the road and unlock Oxford Street’s true potential to deliver a world-class, accessible, clean street for everyone as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”
A Westminster council document setting out the plans said it would be futile to reject the mayor’s request, due to Government support for the changes to Oxford Street.
It said: “By agreeing to do this proactively, rather than refusing and waiting for the decision to be made by the Secretary of State, Westminster council will significantly improve our ability to influence what happens to Oxford Street and how.
“Westminster council will work pragmatically and constructively with the GLA to ensure the future success of Oxford Street and represent the interests of residents and businesses.
“Under section 14B(5) of the Highways Act 1980, the GLA has the option to seek Secretary of State approval, if WCC refused to give consent. This means that WCC’s power to refuse the GLA request would only be meaningful if the Secretary of State were to support such a refusal, which seems unlikely here, given the support for the project indicated by the Government.”
The council added: “The designation of the road will have minimal impact on local residents and businesses who are unlikely to notice that the highway is managed and maintained by TfL instead of WCC.”
A second TfL consultation that will reveal how buses will be diverted away from Oxford Street, and wider restrictions for taxis and cyclists, is due to open in November.
Cllr Sullivan, Westminster’s cabinet member for streets, said: "While Transport for London will become the highway authority for Oxford Street, Westminster City Council remain committed to working with the mayor to listen and act on the knowledge of local residents and businesses.
“We want to build on our successes - in tackling rogue trading candy shops and attracting high quality retailers like IKEA and HMV.
“Westminster Council will work pragmatically, as our residents expect us to, with TfL and the new Mayoral Development Corporation to ensure that the future of Oxford Street is bright. We need Oxford Street to work for everyone — locals, Londoners, and the world.”
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