London mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled plans to ban traffic from Oxford Street, in a bid to revitalise the famous shopping thoroughfare.

The proposal aims to pedestrianise a 0.7-mile stretch between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, with potential for further pedestrianisation towards Tottenham Court Road.

Khan said the street, once considered the "jewel in the crown of Britain's retail sector", has suffered significantly over the past decade. "Urgent action is needed to give the nation's most famous high street a new lease of life," he stated.

The plan, which would see buses and taxis rerouted, comes as Oxford Street attempts to bounce back from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the closure of major department stores, and increased competition from online shopping. Currently, around 500,000 people visit the street daily.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is expected to approve the creation of a mayoral development area, granting Khan enhanced planning powers to push through the long-thwarted pedestrianisation. Rayner said the redevelopment would "drive growth by creating new jobs, generating economic activity and giving a much-needed boost to London's night-time economy".

However, the plan has faced opposition. Westminster City Council, responsible for Oxford Street, expressed dismay at the proposal. Stuart Love, the council's chief executive, said they had only learned of Khan's scheme days ago. Love stated that pedestrianisation posed "practical challenges" and that the council was waiting for details on "how long it could take to be delivered and how the concerns of local residents and users of the street will be addressed".

The council has already consulted locals on a £90 million plan to improve the street, including wider pavements while maintaining two-way traffic. Love described this plan as "shovel ready".

Concerns have also been raised about accessibility. The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association highlighted that taxi ranks outside John Lewis and Selfridges are two of the busiest in London, serving vulnerable Londoners who rely on such transport.

Despite these concerns, some retailers have cautiously welcomed the plans. Peter Ruis, executive director at John Lewis, said the company remained "extremely proud" to be on what he called "the nation's high street".

The project is expected to cost about £150 million, with City Hall officials hoping local businesses, private funders and new revenue streams could foot the bill.

No specific date has been set for the implementation of the plan, which is subject to statutory consultation and approval by the Labour-led London assembly. Based on previous timelines, the western half of Oxford Street could potentially be pedestrianised by 2027.

This latest proposal is not the first attempt to pedestrianise Oxford Street. The idea has a long and contentious history dating back several decades. In the 1960s, a plan was floated to carry shoppers via a travelator, while the 1970s saw a scheme proposing a track carrying cars on air cushions. Both of these futuristic ideas failed to materialise.

More recently, in the early 2000s, former London mayor Ken Livingstone put forward proposals for pedestrianisation, but these were rejected. Since then, traffic has been incrementally limited on the street, but full pedestrianisation has remained elusive.

Khan's previous attempt in 2017 was blocked by Westminster Council amid concerns from businesses and residents. This new plan represents the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Oxford Street's transformation, with proponents hoping it will finally succeed where others have failed.

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