Pedestrianisation of London’s Oxford Street: the devil is in the detour

Bus Routes

The outline consultation document (OCD) confirmed that, as of 2025, there are eight bus routes using the street by day and nine bus routes by night, amounting to 35 buses per hour in each direction. Questions remain about what pedestrianisation would mean for these routes given no further information was provided in the document.

The subsequent consultation report notes that any bus changes/diversions would be subject to detailed design and further consultation. As buses offer a cost-effective travel solution, ensuring bus routes are not unduly compromised will continue to represent an important element of the ambitious proposals.

Cyclists

Whilst Oxford Street is not a dedicated cycleway, it is one of the primary east-west cycling routes in the West End accommodating around 4,000 cycle trips daily. The OCD references the “reassignment of traffic, including cyclists” from Oxford Street, though no clarity has been given as to whether this means that a pedestrianised Oxford Street would be cycle free and how cyclists will be safely displaced onto already congested surrounding roads. The consultation report notes that any cycling changes would be subject to detailed design and further consultation.

Taxis

A number of objections were raised not just by taxi drivers but also from those concerned about impacts on users with reduced mobility. The report recognises these challenges and seeks to offer comfort that there are design solutions available. However, as above, these are still to be devised and will be subject to further consultation.

MDA boundaries and requirement for a Development Corporation

Concerns were raised about the proposed MDA boundary, with some suggesting that it excludes those neighbouring streets that could be most impacted by the proposals.

Westminster City Council (WCC) also challenged the need for an MDA and respective Development Corporation. Its formal position is that the pedestrianisation is not needed as the council already had a £90m programme of enhancement works planned which they were intending on undertaking themselves in order address the street’s existing challenges. The creation of the Development Corporation therefore, would remove Westminster’s role in determining planning applications and their own ability to coordinate these works. Whilst this position is unsurprising – given that WCC blocked the Mayor’s original proposals in 2018 – WCC has confirmed its commitment to work with the Development Corporation as required.

Next steps

Whilst turning London’s premier retail destination, presently a primary east-west vehicular artery, into a 1.1km tree-lined pedestrian boulevard is a widely celebrated principle, the key question that emerged through the consultation is “how?” The absence of design detail presented in the outline consultation document was a key concern also raised by the London Assembly in its own response.

On 17 June 2025 the Mayor formally presented the MDA boundary to the London Assembly. The assembly were given a 21-day consideration period (ending on 8 July 2025) in accordance with Section 197(5)a) of the Localism Act 2011 – after which, if it does not object, the Mayor will put in place steps to have the MDA and Development Corporation in place by 1 January 2026. If the London Assembly does object however, then it could see Oxford Street’s pedestrianisation plans put in the slow lane.

Further information

Contact Andrew Lightstone or Annamaria Sgueglia