Sadiq Khan pushes ahead with new car ban as thousands face daily diversions and disruptions

The move signalled that City Hall would be pressing ahead with plans to turn large sections of Oxford Street into a car-free zone, despite ongoing controversy around traffic disruption, bus diversions and the wider impact on central London.

Sir Khan has been pushing to rebrand Oxford Street as a pedestrian-focused destination for shopping, leisure, culture and major public events.

Supporters argued the street has suffered years of decline and needs radical intervention, while critics say the plan risks exporting congestion into surrounding neighbourhoods and making life harder for commuters, drivers and delivery firms.

Legislation establishing the Mayoral Development Corporation came into force on January 1, after receiving backing from the London Assembly in July 2025.

City Hall worked alongside central Government to pass the legal framework, handing the Mayor sweeping new powers over the future of the street.

Alongside the board meeting, Transport for London is currently running a major public consultation on the practical changes needed to make pedestrianisation happen.

The consultation focused on proposed transport and highway changes on what TfL calls "Oxford Street West", the section between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street.

TfL said the consultation is designed to gather views on how pedestrianisation would work in practice, including bus routes and stop locations, the impact on taxis and private hire vehicles, arrangements for cyclists, and how traffic would still be able to flow north-south through the area.

It also covers how businesses would continue to receive deliveries, as well as the expected effects on journey times, accessibility and the local environment.

The consultation opened in November 2025 and will run until Friday, January 16, with a series of drop-in events already held in December and January.

TfL stressed that this stage does not revisit the earlier Oxford Street Transformation consultation, which closed in May 2025, but instead focuses on the detailed transport and highway changes needed to deliver pedestrianisation.

The earlier consultation attracted more than 6,000 responses, with almost seven in 10 Londoners supporting the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation. Of those expressing a view, around two-thirds backed pedestrianising the road itself.

Commercial interest in Oxford Street is also said to be rising, with property firm Savills predicting a record number of new retail openings by the end of 2026, with leasing activity already accelerating as retailers position themselves for a car-free future.

The new development corporation will be led by chief executive Nabeel Khan, formerly head of growth and environment at Lambeth Council, where he helped develop policies aimed at reducing vehicle dominance on local streets.

The board is being chaired by Scott Parsons, a veteran of major London developments who previously led Westfield and oversaw Landsec's property portfolio.

Other board members include planning law expert Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE, theatre designer Es Devlin OBE, former Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman, ex-British Fashion Council chief Caroline Rush CBE and high-profile restaurateur Asma Khan.

Sir Khan said: "The meeting is a major milestone in our work to revitalise the nation's high street and create a truly world-class leisure destination.

"Bringing the diverse knowledge and insight of our new Board members together with Nabeel Khan's regeneration expertise will help us to unlock Oxford Street's true potential, as we continue building a better and more prosperous London for everyone."