Westminster City Council's last-minute effort to delay the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been rejected by the Government, the Evening Standard has reported. The council had written to ministers last week demanding that Transport for London carry out a full environmental impact assessment before the Mayor of London's £150 million project goes ahead next month. TfL had sought permission to forego the full evaluation, but the council argued that banning traffic from the capital's flagship shopping street would lead to an increase in noise and pollution on surrounding roads, and councillors raised concerns the scheme was being rushed through without the standard checks that assess the impact of major developments. Ministers rejected Westminster's request on Friday.
Cllr Tim Barnes, the council's Deputy Leader, said:
"We're extremely disappointed that MHCLG has ignored legitimate concerns about the impact this scheme will have on central London.
"Rushing pedestrianisation to meet the Mayor's arbitrary deadline will be a disaster for local people, businesses and visitors. The Mayor's own submission to MHCLG showed air pollution and noise rising. We need to know how much, and how far, those problems will spread.
"Important questions - on managing traffic, noise and impact on air quality - all sit unanswered.
"We've consistently said that if pedestrianisation must happen we'll help to make it work.
"London deserves a world-class shopping district, but I'm worried we're heading for an unmanaged mess."
He added that the council was reviewing the details of the decision and considering its next steps as work begins on the scheme.
Traffic is set to be banned between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street by the end of October, with a permanent design for the new layout, likely to include al fresco dining areas, set to be published by November 2027.
Read Rachael Burford's article for The Standard in full on their website.
