Sadiq Khan could fast-track plans to ban cars from Oxford Street with 'bold' pedestrianisation plan

Sir Sadiq Khan could look to accelerate his pedestrianisation plans for one of the busiest shopping districts in the UK, effectively banning cars from the area.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has consistently backed the pedestrianisation of the area, arguing that it could stimulate economic growth, improve services and slash emissions.

New reports suggest that the scheme could be fast-tracked, allowing traffic to be rerouted earlier than originally expected.

Subject to a consultation, the first phase of the pedestrianisation could take place in spring next year.

If there is enough support for the plans in the consultation, traffic could be removed by spring or summer 2026, The Times suggested.

New West End Company (NWEC), which represents retailers across some of London's most popular shopping districts, reportedly updated property agents last week.

Claims suggest that "technical traffic modelling" is being planned for the first phase, which could begin in late November between Oxford Circus and Orchard Street.

The Mayor had previously spoken of his goal to pedestrianise Oxford Street by the end of his third term in May 2028.

A spokesperson for Sir Khan said: "The Mayor is moving forward with the next stage of bold and imaginative proposals for Oxford Street, which he believes will deliver a world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure and outdoor events and a cleaner, truly accessible world-class public space."

The spokesperson also suggested that Transport for London could include "detailed proposals" on traffic and highway changes in a later consultation.

The results are expected to be published in the first half of 2026, which could lay the groundworks for Oxford Street to be pedestrianised as soon as possible.

On September 21, Oxford Street banned access to cars and held events to showcase how the pedestrianisation scheme could work.

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Sir Khan attended the trial, saying: "Traffic-free, full of music, great food, pop-ups and entertainment for everyone. And doesn't it look amazing."

The "This is Oxford Street" event offered art installations, an urban forest, live performances and food stalls from cuisines from around the world.

Major brands also supported the endeavour, including John Lewis, the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB) and The Body Shop.

A previous consultation found that seven in 10 people supported the Mayor's plans to "regenerate" Oxford Street.

The research also found that two-thirds of people specifically backed proposals to pedestrianise the busy shopping area.

Separate data following the traffic-free day last month showed that 70 per cent of businesses on Oxford Street showed similar or higher sales, while football increased by almost 50 per cent.

The survey from NWEC found that 83 per cent of shops on Oxford Street said they would consider taking part in similar traffic-free events in the future.

Dee Corsi, chief executive of the NWEC, said: "We have always been clear that the transformation of Oxford Street needs to happen at pace.

"While the timelines sit with the mayor of London and his team, we welcome progress towards delivering long-term improvements and will continue to work closely with all partners as plans evolve."