London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has declared his one-day car ban trial of Oxford Street a triumph, marking what he called "the day the fightback began to rescue this street".
The trial saw all cars banned from the popular shopping district on Sunday, September 21, and hoped to give Londoners a taster of what his proposal would become.
The trial went ahead despite concerns about traffic displacement affecting thousands of vehicles on one of the capital's busiest thoroughfares.
Sir Khan visited the iconic shopping destination on Sunday while the half-mile section between Oxford Circus and Orchard Street was closed to all traffic for eight hours.
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During the trial, vehicles were banned from a 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch. This timeframe prevented access to what is typically a crucial route for approximately 500,000 daily visitors.
The temporary closure, part of the "This is Oxford Street" event, offered Londoners what the Mayor described as "a glimpse of what the future could be like" while acknowledging that some residents had raised worries about congestion and accessibility issues.
The event transformed the usually traffic-clogged street into a pedestrian hub featuring basketball courts, baseball batting cages, live music across three stages, and food stalls.
The Mayor shared on X: "This is Oxford Street, completely transformed and traffic-free. It was fantastic to see community spirit in the heart of the West End.
"By removing traffic, this created the space to stride, stroll and explore. This street is for everyone to enjoy with music, art, food and fun. Our next step is working to make this vision a reality."
The London Mayor hoped the trial would give Londoners a glimpse of his proposed car ban next year
|PA
Sir Khan acknowledged that Oxford Street "has been in decline for some time", describing the situation as "managed decline", which had been exacerbated by the pandemic and the rise of online shopping.
The Mayor detailed how Sunday's event represented a turning point in efforts to revitalise the nation's most famous shopping destination.
Oxford Street contributes an estimated £25billion annually to London's economy, making it a critical commercial hub that the Mayor argued requires urgent intervention.
A Greater London Authority consultation conducted earlier this year revealed that approximately 70 per cent of respondents backed Sir Khan's regeneration proposals, with two-thirds specifically supporting pedestrianisation plans.
The trial ban took place on September 21 and saw all cars banned from Oxford Street
|PA
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The Mayor now intends to establish a Mayoral Development Corporation by January 2026, pending Government approval, which would provide planning powers to transform the area.
Transport for London will conduct detailed traffic consultations later this year, examining proposals to remove east-west traffic between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street.
Westminster City Council, which previously blocked Khan's 2018 pedestrianisation attempt, has negotiated several compromises with the Mayor's office following residents' concerns about traffic displacement.
The council shared: "Westminster does not believe an MDC is necessary to realise the transformation of Oxford Street. Oxford Street is entirely in Westminster, and we remain clear in our view that Westminster is the appropriate authority to handle the transformation of Oxford Street."
Map of the proposed pedestrianised route along Oxford Street | TFLThe council secured agreements that bus services will continue along the eastern section from Oxford Circus to Tottenham Court Road, while some north-south taxi access will be maintained under any future pedestrianisation scheme.
The Mayor said that he "fully understands" the minority of residents worried about congestion, confirming authorities had consulted local communities.
"We're going to carry on not just working with residents and the council, but working with retailers, landowners and others to make sure we can return this street to its previous glory," Sir Khan said.
Additional measures include freight consolidation requirements and prioritising electric buses for any displaced routes.
Dee Corsi, chief executive at New West End Company, praised the trial event as offering "a new, exciting way to experience the nation's high street", while retailers expressed enthusiasm for the street's potential renaissance.