London Mayor Sadiq Khan is pressing forward with ambitious plans to transform Oxford Street into a pedestrianised zone, following overwhelming public backing.
In the next steps, the Greater London Authority has initiated a tender process to appoint two design teams who will shape the regeneration of London’s most famous shopping destination.
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A consultation on the Oxford Street plans attracted huge attention and support from Londoners
The regeneration programme represents a significant intervention to reverse Oxford Street’s decline and restore its status as a “premier” retail and leisure destination competing with global counterparts.
The process, which began in August, seeks design teams from the Mayor’s Architecture and Urbanism Framework to submit proposals for the Oxford Street Transformation Programme.
One team will focus on developing the initial phase between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, while a second will create a comprehensive concept design spanning the entire stretch from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road.
The proposed pedestrianisation would cover nearly a mile of the shopping district, with detailed traffic and highway proposals under development.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan hopes to establish a Mayoral Development Corporation by January 2026
Under the proposals, it specifically looks to close the section between Orchard Street and Oxford Circus, extending to Great Portland Street to vehicles.
Further public consultation on the specific traffic arrangements is scheduled for later this year, with contracts for the selected design teams expected to commence in September.
The move follows reports that despite Oxford Street generating an estimated £25billion annually for London’s economy, it has struggled in recent years due to the pandemic’s impact and the rise of online shopping.
The consultation, conducted between February and May 2025, attracted 6,642 submissions from residents, businesses, trade unions and accessibility organisations across Greater London and beyond.
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When asked about establishing a Mayoral Development Area, 69 per cent of respondents expressed support, while 66 per cent backed the pedestrianisation principle. These figures increased to 70 per cent and 67 per cent, respectively, when campaign responses were included.
The Mayor 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. This will help to attract more international visitors, and act as a magnet for new investment and job creation, driving growth and economic prosperity for decades to come.”
The transformation aims to create an attractive, inclusive space suitable for commercial activation, outdoor events and al fresco dining, positioning Oxford Street to rival international shopping destinations like New York’s Fifth Avenue and Paris’s Champs-Élysées.
The plans would see cars banned from travelling along the popular shopping route
The Mayor has also written to Westminster City Council proposing that Oxford Street, from Marble Arch to the western junction with Tottenham Court Road, become a Greater London Authority road, which would make Transport for London the highway authority.
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, described the opportunity as “really exciting” for the two design teams collaborating on the Mayor’s “bold and ambitious Oxford Street Transformation Programme”.
“We welcome bids for this fast-paced project, which aims to build a world-class retail, hospitality and visitor destination that can compete with cities across the globe,” Norman said.
The programme’s objectives include curating retail and leisure offerings to promote Oxford Street as a premier visitor destination for shopping, leisure and outdoor events. The transformation will focus on developing a high-quality, safe, sustainable and climate-resilient public realm.