The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street should be followed by wider traffic restrictions across the entire West End, mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has been told.
The call from the London Cycling Campaign came as Westminster council moved forward with plans to pedestrianise the lower section of Regent Street and expand the pavement areas in Piccadilly Circus.
The council said its proposals would make Regent Street St James’s – the road directly to the south of Piccadilly Circus, running to St James’s Park – traffic-free, an area about the size of five football pitches.
It also announced changes to the main section of Regent Street, including the introduction of “safer cycling routes” from All Souls’ Church to Piccadilly Circus, better pedestrian crossings and the removal of the central island running along the street.
Sir Sadiq described the council’s plans for Regent Street as “fantastic” and said they would “complement” his plans to part-pedestrianise Oxford Street.
The changes would reduce the main section of Regent Street – between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus – to a single lane of traffic in each direction.
Two-way traffic would be reintroduced on Haymarket.
London Cycling Campaign urged Sir Sadiq to build on pedestrianised but “isolated” areas of the West End already regarded as a success – Covent Garden, Carnaby Street and Aldwych.
It warned against following a piece-meal approach to traffic reduction, saying that an “area-wide approach is now vital”.
Last month Sir Sadiq confirmed he was pressing ahead with the part-pedestrianisation of Oxford Street after receiving ‘North Korean’ levels of support in a consultation.
The mayor’s scheme will involve more of Oxford Street 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.
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.
Westminster council, which has ditched its less radical proposals for Oxford Street after pressure from Sir Sadiq, announced on Thursday that it was continuing to work with the Crown Estate to transform Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and Haymarket into a” greener, more inclusive and accessible world-class destination”.
Public engagement on the proposals will run until August 10.
The draft masterplan reimagines architect John Nash's famous original ambition – set out 200 years ago – to connect St James’s Park and Regent’s Park, by creating a more accessible “new green link” through the heart of the West End.
Regent Street attracts more than 57,000 visitors daily but suffers from crowded pavements and has limited places to rest.
The council aims to approve the changes next year. When complete, they will amount to the “most significant transformation of Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus in over a century,” the Labour-run authority said.
The go-ahead would also be subject to the council securing sufficient funding for the changes.
Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Westminster’s cabinet member for planning & economic development, said: “By removing traffic from Regent Street St James’s and expanding pedestrian space at Piccadilly Circus, we’re creating a new network of public spaces that will serve Londoners for generations.
“This is a rare opportunity to reimagine the heart of the West End as a greener, more welcoming and accessible place that works better for residents, visitors and local businesses.”
Kristy Lansdown, managing director of development at The Crown Estate, said: “We now have a unique chance to revitalise the heart of the West End as a greener, more inclusive and accessible destination.”
The London Cycling Campaign wants to a “Low Traffic West End”. Almost 1,000 of its members wrote to the mayor during the Oxford Street consultation asking him to encourage cycling and reduce motor traffic.
Sir Sadiq has said that cycling will be banned from the pedestrianised areas of Oxford Street – creating pressure on Westminster council and Transport for London to develop safe parallel routes to the north of Oxford Street for the tens of thousands of cyclists who ride through the street each day.
However there is the possibility that cyclists could be permitted to use Oxford Street in the early mornings and evenings as part of their bike commute to and from work.
Tom Fyans, chief executive of London Cycling Campaign, said: “London risks falling behind on the global stage as other European cities like Paris blaze a trail on reducing traffic in their city centres.
“We want the mayor to dare to dream bigger and move faster to deliver real changes London needs for climate, health, communities and business.
“The economic, social and environmental case for a low traffic West End is clear - we now need to see transformative political leadership on all levels to get this done.”
Antonia Jennings, chief executive of the Centre for London thinktank, said: “Thousands of pedestrians and cyclists pass through the area every day.
“As we see a rise in active modes of travel in the area, it may be time to de-prioritise car use to retain the vibrancy and the safety of those walking, wheeling and cycling within the West End.
Rupert Power, chairman of the Soho Business Alliance, said: "A joined-up approach is essential to avoid simply shifting challenges from one neighbourhood to another.”
Will Norman, London's walking & cycling commissioner, said: "Sadiq's plans to transform Oxford Street will unlock its true potential and deliver a world-class, accessible, clean, avenue.
“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 be consulted on later this year."
Responding to the London Cycling Campaign, Westminster council said it was planning to make improvements to cycling facilities on Portland Place and Cleveland Street and was reintroducing al fresco dining to St Martin’s Lane.
A Westminster council spokesperson said: “We thank the London Cycling Campaign for their contribution to the discussion about how to make the West End a more vibrant, healthy, and accessible place.
“We share a commitment to of a safer and more accessible West End that works for residents, businesses and visitors.
“As the report acknowledges, Westminster City Council has already delivered a series of significant public realm and traffic reduction schemes that are helping to transform central London.
“These include the Strand Aldwych transformation, Covent Garden’s timed road closures, and support for innovative last-mile freight solutions, such as Amazon’s walking freight initiative—all of which are delivering tangible benefits in terms of air quality, pedestrian safety and public enjoyment of our streets.
“We are clear that reducing through-traffic and enhancing the public realm must go hand in hand with protecting the liveability of residential areas, notably protection from noise, access to deliveries and availability of tradespeople.”
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