{"id":41116,"date":"2024-10-01T16:07:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T15:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=41116"},"modified":"2024-09-30T18:20:27","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T17:20:27","slug":"mayor-of-london-and-government-announce-bold-plans-to-transform-oxford-street","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=41116","title":{"rendered":"Mayor of London and Government announce bold plans to transform Oxford Street"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ihbconline.co.uk\/newsachive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Oxford_Circus_London_W1_-_geograph.org_.uk_-_1604920.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ihbconline.co.uk\/newsachive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Oxford_Circus_London_W1_-_geograph.org_.uk_-_1604920.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19454\" style=\"width:288px;height:auto\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<h6><em>image for illustration: by Christine Matthews \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/b\/b5\/Oxford_Circus%2C_London_W1_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1604920.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oxford Circus, London W1<\/a><\/em><em>\u00a0Commons Wikimedia<\/em><\/h6>\n\n<h3>The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and government announce bold plans to transform Oxford Street including turning the road into a traffic-free pedestrianised avenue, creating a beautiful public space.<\/h3>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>London Assembly writes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, proposes to transform world-famous Oxford Street, in new plans backed by the Government<\/li>\n<li>At the heart of the Mayor\u2019s plans is delivering proposals to pedestrianise the road<\/li>\n<li>A revitalised, pedestrianised Oxford Street would increase visitor numbers, create new jobs and boost growth in London and across the UK<\/li>\n<li>Supported by the new Government, the pedestrianisation plans would be delivered through the designation of a new Mayoral Development Area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has today set out bold proposals to transform Oxford Street, including turning the road into a traffic-free pedestrianised avenue, creating a beautiful public space. The plans backed by the new government would ensure Oxford Street becomes a driver of London\u2019s economic prosperity for decades to come. Today the Mayor Sadiq Khan will say he wants Oxford Street to \u2018once again become the leading retail destination in the world.\u2019 The Mayor has previously tried to implement major changes to Oxford Street, but was blocked from implementing his plans. Now, with the new Government taking a partnership approach to working with cities and Mayors, there is agreement to work together with a view to unlocking Oxford Street\u2019s full potential for the benefit of London and other parts of the UK. The proposals would deliver a much-improved experience for shoppers, residents, workers and tourists visiting Oxford Street and the surrounding area, returning this part of the capital to its former glory.<\/p>\n<p>Supported by ministers, today the Mayor has confirmed that he intends to designate a Mayoral Development Area to bring forward the regeneration of Oxford Street. As part of this, the Mayor is proposing that a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is established, which will have planning powers to provide the framework for delivery of a world-leading scheme that works for residents, visitors and businesses. Oxford Street is famous across the world. It still welcomes more than 500,000 visitors every day and generates approximately five per cent of the capital\u2019s economic output (GVA), the equivalent of \u00a322.75bn (in 2019). It is home to numerous flagship stores, including Selfridges and John Lewis, as well as being a key commercial centre. Although Oxford Street remains a vital part of the UK\u2019s tourism, leisure and retail offer, generating revenue for the Exchequer that is reinvested across the country, it is in need of major regeneration. Competition from online retailers and out-of-town shopping centres, the closure of flagship department stores, and the prevalence of \u2018candy stores\u2019 have put significant strain on Oxford Street\u2019s attractiveness, while tourism numbers have not fully recovered since the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>The Mayor is determined to re-invent and transform Oxford Street, working with businesses and Westminster City Council to create one of the finest public spaces in the world and making the area substantially greener, cleaner and safer for everyone. The Mayor believes his proposals would turn Oxford Street into a more attractive and thriving modern retail and leisure destination attracting more tourists, increasing footfall and spending. It\u2019s likely this would generate additional economic activity and increased tax revenue, as well as boosting London\u2019s night-time economy, meaning that it can once again compete with other international high street destinations, such as Times Square in New York, the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris and Las Ramblas in Barcelona.<\/p>\n<p>The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: \u2018Oxford Street was once the jewel in the crown of Britain\u2019s retail sector, but there\u2019s no doubt that it has suffered hugely over the last decade. Urgent action is needed to give the nation\u2019s most famous high street a new lease of life. I am excited to be working with the new Government, and local retailers and businesses, on these plans &#8211; that will help to restore this famous part of the capital to its former glory, while creating new jobs and economic prosperity for the capital and the country. I want Oxford Street to once again become the leading retail destination in the world. The transformation of Oxford Street will be a leading example of how working together \u2013 City Hall and the new Government \u2013 we can build a better London for everyone.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister said: \u2018Oxford Street is a world-renowned shopping destination and we want it to stay that way. By working with the Mayor and local leaders, we can ensure it gets the boost it needs.This plan to revitalise Oxford Street will drive growth by creating new jobs, generating economic activity, and giving a much-needed boost to London\u2019s night-time economy.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Peter Ruis, Executive Director for John Lewis, says: \u2018Oxford Street has been home to the first ever John Lewis store since 1864. We&#8217;re extremely proud of our place on the street and are investing significantly in our flagship, next month opening one of the country&#8217;s biggest Beauty Halls and welcoming Waterstones. We&#8217;re delighted to see the plans announced today to transform &#8216;the nation&#8217;s high street\u2019 and look forward to welcoming even more visitors to London\u2019s West End.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>John Dickie, CEO of BusinessLDN, said: \u2018Oxford Street is London\u2019s flagship high street and an attraction for visitors from across the country and all over the globe. As a key strategic site that spans borough boundaries, the Mayor has an important role to play in investing in and helping to improve the area for the benefit of Londoners, businesses and visitors. We look forward to engaging with the new Mayoral Development Corporation as well as Westminster City Council, the London Borough of Camden, the New West End Company and other stakeholders to help to make Oxford Street an even more vibrant and attractive place to visit.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Barbara Stoll, Director of the Clean Cities Campaign said: \u2018This is fantastic news and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost the West End\u2019s economy while tackling London\u2019s air quality crisis. Cities worldwide have shown that pedestrianisation increases foot traffic, boosts sales, and reduces retail vacancies \u2014 benefiting both local businesses and residents. This move will reinvigorate central London and will reinforce the city\u2019s role as a global leader in effectively tackling climate change whilst making urban life better for everyone. And many businesses are already shifting to zero-emission fleets, cutting costs while delivering climate and air quality gains. We must build on this political ambition and replicate this in towns and cities across the country.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Statement from Dee Corsi, Chief Executive of New West End Company said: \u2018New West End Company has long championed the transformation of Oxford Street, navigating various challenges and proposals over the years. We\u2019re encouraged by the renewed commitment to bring this vision to life and support the government\u2019s drive for economic growth. Given the history of past schemes, it is essential that we move swiftly to deliver this project. We welcome the creation of the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for Oxford Street. This initiative marks a significant step forward in transforming one of London\u2019s most iconic streets and highlights its crucial role in the city\u2019s growth. The West End, a key driver of the UK\u2019s economy, generates 3% of the nation\u2019s economic output and is central to our city\u2019s retail, leisure, and hospitality sectors. The Oxford Street MDC represents a major leap in unlocking its full potential. This revitalisation will not only enhance Oxford Street but also bring economic benefits to all Londoners and the wider UK economy. We are pleased that all partners are taking a long-term, strategic view of the issues at hand, ensuring a comprehensive approach to Oxford Street\u2019s future, of course the devil will be in the detail. Representing over 600 West End businesses, New West End Company looks forward to working closely with the Mayor, the Government, and Westminster City Council to ensure the MDC\u2019s goals are achieved. We\u2019re committed to making this vision a reality and seizing the opportunity to elevate Oxford Street as a top global destination.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said: \u2018I fully support Mayor Khan&#8217;s visionary plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street. In Paris, we have seen firsthand how transforming our iconic streets into pedestrian-friendly areas has revitalised the city, reducing pollution and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, said: \u2018Barcelona stands with London in its bold efforts to reimagine its urban spaces. Like our own transformation of Las Ramblas, this project will enrich the city\u2019s cultural life, create a more comfortable and friendly space for pedestrians, and inspire cities around the world to follow suit.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Karim Fatehi &#8211; London Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: \u2018London is a global tourist destination, with a diverse and vibrant retail scene which attracts around 30 million visitors every year. Oxford Street is the city\u2019s most famous street and the busiest shopping destination in Europe. But over the last decade it has seen the closure of several iconic brands and an increase in low quality retail stores. We are supportive of the efforts being made by Westminster Council to reverse this trend, but we must now go further to ensure that the capital&#8217;s premier shopping street continues to flourish and brings back forward-looking brands and footfall that maintains our competitive lead on other cities. For this reason, we are pleased that the Mayor of London will now take forward this significant and innovative new scheme to transform Oxford Street for visitors, residents, tourists and businesses, including the many small businesses, the lifeblood of our economy, that operate in the West End.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.london.gov.uk\/mayor-london-and-government-announce-bold-plans-transform-oxford-street\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more&#8230;.<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>image for illustration: by Christine Matthews \/ Oxford Circus, London W1\u00a0Commons Wikimedia The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and government announce bold plans to transform Oxford Street including turning the road into a traffic-free pedestrianised avenue, creating a beautiful public &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=41116\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[30,9,31,16],"class_list":["post-41116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sector-newsblog","tag-environment","tag-government","tag-nature","tag-planning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41116"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41116\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41118,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41116\/revisions\/41118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}