Oxford Street plans backed by residents and businesses, says council

Wider pavements are among the plans for Oxford Street's redevelopment

Plans to redevelop Oxford Street have had the backing of residents and businesses, a central London council has said.

Westminster Council's £90m plans for Britain's busiest shopping street will see changes such as wider footpaths, more seating and trees planted.

Two-thirds of the 1,600 respondents to a consultation on the redevelopment backed the plans, the council said.

Work on the upgrades is expected to begin this autumn.

The consultation took place through in-person events, outreach in local markets, and detailed feedback via an online questionnaire where people gave their feedback to the plans.

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Schemes for Oxford Circus, Marylebone Fitzrovia, Oxford Street West, and Eastcastle Street were also included in the consultation.

'Heartening' response

These focus on providing more direct vehicle routes through the areas as well as improvements for pedestrians and the public realm.

All five schemes received support from more than half of the respondents to the questionnaire and were approved to go ahead by the council's cabinet on 11 December.

The plans include creating areas of respite along the street

Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Westminster's cabinet member for planning and economic development, 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."

He also welcomed the arrival of new retailers to Oxford Street and the reduction in the number of American candy stores.

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