Westminster City Council has accused Sadiq Khan of ignoring concerns about the dangers that could be caused by the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street. The town hall wrote to the Government on Friday, demanding that Transport for London (TfL) carry out a full environmental impact assessment ahead of the scheme going ahead.
TfL has sought permission to forego the full evaluation, but the council is arguing that the project to ban traffic from the capital’s flagship shopping street will lead to an increase in noise and pollution in surrounding roads.
Concerns over rushed scheme
The local authority said it has raised concerns that the scheme is being rushed through without standard checks which assess the impact of major developments. It has warned that proceeding without considering the potential impact on air quality, noise, traffic, waste management and public safety will be “a disaster” for residents, businesses and visitors.
Tim Barnes, deputy leader of Westminster City Council, said: “Our position on pedestrianisation is simple, if you must to do it, get it right. A needlessly rushed scheme will be a disaster for residents and worse for business.
“This scheme will have an impact way beyond Oxford Street affecting bus routes and traffic flow right across the capital. The Mayor has important questions to answer about managing traffic, noise, impact on air quality or how to clean the roads. The consequences of getting this wrong are potentially terrible for central London.
“London deserves a world class shopping district at its centre and instead we’re headed for an unmanaged mess with noisy, gridlocked roads, poor air quality and waste in the streets. The Mayor is trying to cut corners when it comes to ensuring this plan is safe for Londoners.”
Political backdrop and next steps
The Conservatives, who won back control of Westminster council at the May 7 local elections, have repeatedly criticised the Mayor of London for what they called a “sham” consultation over Oxford Street changes.
Under Sir Sadiq’s plans, an estimated £150 million will be spent on making the busy road vehicle-free between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. Traffic will be banned by the end of “summer 2026” and a permanent design for the new layout of the street, likely to include al fresco dining areas, will be published by November 2027.
The Mayor believes the pedestrianisation scheme will boost Oxford Street’s attractiveness to shoppers, visitors and tourists, and his office has previously rejected the Tory accusations that the project is being rushed.
TfL said it had submitted an environmental impact assessment screening opinion to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and was awaiting the outcome. “This will determine whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment is required and will influence when the transformation works begin,” a spokesman added.
