Westminster City Council has dashed hopes that two pedestrian piazzas could be established at Oxford Circus by the end of the year, after consultations with local residents.
The local authority has said it will not go ahead with the pilot of two car-free squares at the site, raising fears that it may permanently water down its improvement plans for central London.
The two adjacent public spaces were set to slice down the middle of Oxford Street at the junction with Regent Street, designed to make the area more pedestrian friendly and less polluted.
Around 200m people a year visited the Oxford Street district before Covid-19 struck, and the upcoming Crossrail Tube line is projected to add a further 60m to that figure. As a result, the proposals also included adding new entrances to Oxford Circus Tube station.
Council leader Rachael Robathan previously said: “There is an urgent need to tackle issues with pedestrian congestion and safety, poor air quality and noise. The serious congestion of Oxford Circus, of people and of traffic, is unsustainable and demands action.”
However, in a follow-up statement published online this week, Westminster resolved to cancel the pilot plan which would have seen the squares go ahead by the end of this year. This has come after it consulted local residents on the issue, it said.
“We have always been clear that all improvements must benefit our residents as well as businesses and visitors, and we want to make sure we consult openly and fully with local groups to ensure that their views can shape any of our proposals or schemes,” the council said.
“Having listened to residents and reviewed the cost effectiveness of the proposal for a pilot for the Oxford Circus piazzas, we have decided that it’s better to move forward with a focus on permanent schemes.
“Therefore, the temporary piazzas previously planned to open at Oxford Circus later this year will not now go ahead, along with all associated enabling street works. We’ll be focusing on engaging with residents and other stakeholders on potential permanent schemes for piazzas at Oxford Circus, along with associated enabling works.”
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