Oxford Street, long considered the beating heart of Britain’s high-street retail, is set to undergo a landmark transformation. The newly knighted Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s plan to pedestrianise nearly a mile of the iconic shopping boulevard has moved from aspiration to action – backed by public consultation, government support, and a new political alignment ahead of the 2026 elections.
Originally proposed in early 2025, the scheme will see the stretch from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street gradually closed off to vehicular traffic. The initiative follows years of disruption – plummeting footfall due to COVID, the rise of online shopping, and fierce competition from retail parks. A striking 70% of Londoners and two-thirds of businesses expressed support for the plan in the consultation. “Oxford Street has suffered over many years, so urgent action is needed,” said Khan. “We’re establishing it as a world-class, accessible, pedestrianised avenue” .
However, the proposal hasn’t always had smooth political sailing. In fact, Mayor Khan found himself at odds with Westminster City Council, led by members of his own Labour Party, particularly over a previous failed effort to pedestrianise Oxford Circus. Khan publicly accused the council of having “failed” the nation’s most famous high street. But with council elections looming in 2026 and political winds shifting, Westminster Council has now reconciled with City Hall. A collaborative tone has replaced open dispute, with council leaders backing the redevelopment, citing its potential to improve air quality, wellbeing, and economic revival.
A cornerstone of the plan is the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) by January 2026, a new body that would take over planning authority from local councils to fast-track the area’s regeneration. This has sparked political controversy. Conservatives in the City Hall have raised alarm over what they call a “blatant power grab” by the Mayor, arguing that local democratic processes are being undermined. Andrew Boff , City Hall Conservatives’ planning spokesman, said: “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. Landowner groups have stressed the need for transparent governance, community input, and clarity on funding mechanisms for the MDC.
Still, the Mayor’s office has enjoyed strong institutional backing. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner lent her full support, calling it a move that would “breathe new life” into Oxford Street and “drive investment, create jobs, and boost economic growth”. Commercial giants including Selfridges, John Lewis, and the newly opened Ikea on Oxford Street have applauded the proposal, anticipating better pedestrian experiences and stronger footfall. “This is a positive step,” said Ikea UK CEO Peter Jelkeby, “which will bring benefits to visitors, shoppers, and businesses alike.”
The plan also aligns with broader urban trends – drawing on global precedents like Times Square in New York or La Rambla in Barcelona. Yet its stakes are distinctly London’s own: reviving a street that once generated 5% of the capital’s annual economic activity, and reimagining it not just as a place to shop, but as a space to linger, connect, and belong.
As Westminster and City Hall begin working in tandem, the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street could signal more than urban renewal. It marks a rare moment of political alignment – one that, if managed transparently, could redefine how Londoners and the world experience the city’s most iconic street.
