Boris Johnson once described Oxford Street as being “bisected by a panting wall of red metal” — but it is his successor as mayor of London who will remove the tailbacks that have long blighted the capital’s shopping thoroughfare.
Sir Sadiq Khan will proceed with a controversial plan to pedestrianise a significant chunk of Oxford Street in a bid to “rejuvenate” the area.
The plans will involve the banning of traffic from Great Portland Street, just to the east of the new Ikea store near Oxford Circus underground station, to Orchard Street, to the west of Selfridges.
Almost a mile of Oxford Street may become car free
The mayor’s office says the plans will open up the street for “exciting events and activities” and a create a “well-designed, high-quality space” that attracts shoppers from across the world.
