‘Will it be zillionth time lucky for Oxford Street pedestrianisation?’

Retailers will have had a groundhog day feeling this week as new proposals were unveiled to reinvigorate London’s Oxford Street.

Over the years, and long pre-dating the famous shopping street’s present malaise, countless ideas have been floated to enhance its appeal – everything from futuristic-sounding monorails 50ft above the ground to trams to closing it to traffic.

The latter is once again on the agenda. There’s one big difference from past efforts, though, which could end up making a difference.

The latest pedestrianisation plan has been put forward by London mayor Sadiq Khan. He aims to create an environment that “would increase visitor numbers, create new jobs and boost growth in London and across the UK” so the street would “once again become the leading retail destination in the world”.

In acknowledgement of so many other plans that previously came to naught, he would deploy a special measure: the creation of a mayoral development area overseen by a mayoral development corporation, “which will have planning powers to provide the framework for delivery of a world-leading scheme”.

In that, he has the backing of the powerful deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.

This is all music to many retailers’ ears. John Lewis boss Peter Ruis, for instance, lent his support to proposals to transform the place where the first John Lewis store opened in 1864.

“The announcement of Sadiq Khan’s plans has already ruffled feathers. It came as a surprise to Westminster City Council, which is responsible for the area”

But there may be many a slip twixt cup and lip. For a start, the development area will be subject to statutory consultation and consideration by the London Assembly. That could prove a tortuous process, especially because Khan’s proposals lack detail at the moment.

The announcement of the plans has already ruffled feathers. It came as a surprise, for instance, to Westminster City Council, which is responsible for the area.

To its credit, Westminster, along with the retailer-backed New West End Company, has made some progress on issues such as clearing out the rash of American candy stores that were proliferating.

The council had also set out a strategy to improve Oxford Street and the West End, which was welcomed by retailers but is now in limbo following Khan’s intervention.

The same fundamental issue that derailed previous ambitions to pedestrianise Oxford Street is also likely to arise again – opposition from local residents, who don’t want buses diverted down the streets where they live.

They are likely to oppose pedestrianisation this time, too, and have proven a powerful lobby in the past.

However, Khan’s plan deserves support and it needs to be enacted quickly because Oxford Street is in dire need of improvement.

“Oxford Street must become a place that people actively want to be. At the moment, parts of London further out match or exceed what it has to offer”

Its decline was made worse by the pandemic and its aftermath, such as the prevalence of people working from home, but long-running problems persist.

To succeed in the future, Oxford Street must become a place that people actively want to be. At the moment, parts of London further out from the centre match or exceed what it has to offer.

A few weeks back, I was in Highbury. It was absolutely buzzing. The pavements thronged – but not too thronged – with people on one of those rare sunny evenings of this year’s summer.

The area has pretty much everything: diverse, excellent entertainment venues, restaurants and bars on every street corner, a mix of independent businesses and chains, green space nearby and a great vibe – that intangible factor that makes a massive difference and which Oxford Street all too often lacks.

As many continue to work from home, Highbury is on people’s doorsteps, too, rather than necessitating a journey into town.

Retailers have done their bit to enhance Oxford Street with great stores, whether that’s Primark or Selfridges. Their efforts, though, have often been stymied, as with Marks & Spencer’s efforts to redevelop its Marble Arch flagship.

Pedestrianisation would be a big step forward for Oxford Street’s fortunes, enabling more to be made of local cultural attractions and a wider range of activities that would draw footfall.

Although question marks hang over the latest scheme, the hope has to be that this attempt is zillionth time lucky.