Angela Rayner backs Sadiq Khan’s plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street, aiming to boost tourism, business and jobs by transforming the iconic shopping stretch into a world-class, traffic-free destination.
London’s iconic Oxford Street is one step closer to becoming a pedestrian haven, as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner threw her full support behind Mayor Sadiq Khan’s renewed push to ban traffic from the bustling shopping thoroughfare.
The mayor’s long-standing ambition to transform the 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch into a pedestrian-only zone was previously blocked in 2018 by Westminster City Council, then under Conservative control. But with Labour now in charge at both the council and national levels, political barriers have largely been swept away.
Speaking in support of the plan, Rayner said: “We want to see Oxford Street become the thriving place to be for tourists and Londoners alike, and that’s why we welcome the Mayor of London’s bold proposals. We will support the mayor in delivering this ambitious vision, which will help to breathe new life into Oxford Street—driving investment, creating new jobs for local people, and providing a boost to economic growth in the capital.”
Sir Sadiq Khan’s proposal, which seeks to restrict all vehicular traffic from a key stretch of Oxford Street, aims to create a more walkable, accessible, and attractive environment for shoppers and visitors. It also promises to make room for outdoor events, alfresco dining, and new green spaces—part of a wider post-pandemic reimagining of London’s central spaces.
A recent consultation, launched in February this year, drew over 6,500 responses, with 66% of respondents backing the pedestrianisation. Separate YouGov polling last year showed 63% of Londoners also support the scheme. Major retailers including Ikea, Selfridges and John Lewis have also endorsed the proposal, alongside the London Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Khan 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. It’s clear that the vast majority of Londoners and major businesses back our exciting plans, so I’m pleased to confirm that we will now be moving ahead as quickly as possible.”
He added: “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 pedestrian-first approach will be formalised through the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation, which Khan aims to have up and running by 1 January 2026. Detailed traffic proposals are expected to be published later this year, and will address logistics, public transport routes, and access for residents and delivery vehicles.
Labour’s unified support at both City Hall and Westminster is expected to fast-track the approval process, which once seemed mired in political resistance. The plan not only has economic aims, but also environmental ones: reducing congestion, improving air quality, and encouraging sustainable forms of travel such as walking and cycling.
If approved, Oxford Street will join a growing list of global cities—from New York’s Times Square to Barcelona’s Las Ramblas—that have taken radical steps to reclaim urban space from cars in favour of pedestrians.
Leader of Camden Council, Richard Olszewski, said: “This consultation has shown that the majority of those who responded support these plans and the benefits to the economy, air quality, health and wellbeing that this will bring both London-wide and nationally.
“This is a hugely significant development for central London. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Mayor and other stakeholders to develop these proposals and work up in more detail the operational aspects of the proposed development corporation. These proposals are also set to benefit neighbouring areas like Fitzrovia and Holborn.”
While some concerns remain about displacement of traffic and access issues for businesses and residents, the political and public momentum behind the pedestrianisation is stronger than ever. For Londoners, tourists and shopkeepers alike, the dream of a transformed Oxford Street is finally within reach.
