Plans for a £90m renovation of Oxford Street this have been given the green light by two thirds of respondents to a consultation of local people, businesses, and visitors.
Westminster City council is set to move the programme forward with construction starting this autumn following feedback from over 1,600 people and support for all proposals included in the public consultation.
The consultation took place via in-person events, outreach in local markets, and feedback through an online questionnaire.
Participants were asked to share feedback on different aspects of the proposals, including improvements to the look and accessibility of footways, traffic changes, vehicle access, cycle infrastructure, and signage.
The Oxford Street revamp proposes a more attractive and comfortable street, with improvements such as wider footways, more trees and planting, and clearer signage.
The programme also includes a number of projects to enhance local areas along the street such as Oxford Circus, where the proposals aim to increase footway space by 40%.
Cabinet member for planning and economic development councillor Geoff Barraclough said:
“It’s heartening to see local people and businesses have given their support for our plans to improve Oxford Street and its surrounding areas.
“After a number of schemes have been proposed to develop the district in the past, I am confident that we have an ambitious and deliverable plan in place.”
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He continued: “These encouraging results come off the back of a stellar year on Oxford Street; a year in which we’ve seen big names like HMV returning, newcomers like IKEA offering something different and exciting for shoppers and a fall in the number of candy stores along the street.
“With these positive results, we look forward to an exciting year ahead, and progressing this work in partnership between the council and New West End Company, the voice of the district’s owners and occupiers.”
Schemes for Oxford Circus, Marylebone Fitzrovia, Oxford Street West, and Eastcastle Street were also included in the consultation, with the initiatives focussing on providing more direct vehicle routes through the areas and improvements for pedestrians and the public realm.
All five schemes received support from more than half of the respondents to an online questionnaire and were approved to be implemented by the council’s cabinet on 11th December.
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