Oxford Street will be car free from next month, Lord Sadiq Khan has revealed.
The Mayor of London said Britain’s most famous shopping road will be mostly pedestrianised from October 26.
But he has hit out at Conservative-run Westminster Council for its opposition to the scheme, as it accused the mayor of “rushing preparations” and cited concerns over “access, air pollution, street cleaning and public safety”.
Speaking from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the mayor said the local authority was “opposed to revitalising and re-energising this great street”.
Lord Khan said: “I’m somebody who’s worked really closely with the businesses out there, and despite their knee jerk opposition with the council where possible, and I think on October 26, when it’s traffic-free, that’ll begin the real transformation of the nation’s high street.
“And because that council has failed to be decent custodians of our street, I’ll be a good custodian.”
Buses, taxis and bikes will be banned from the almost a kilometre stretch from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street.
Lord Khan says work on the pedestrian plaza will begin in earnest from October 26 to create “a world-class space where flagship retail will sit alongside next-generation workplaces”. He added the revamped street will be a beacon of “exciting retail and leisure experiences from sport to fashion and cultural events”.
“Following strong support from Londoners and businesses, I’m excited to see my bold vision for Oxford Street really coming to life next month as we start going traffic-free, just in time for the busy Christmas shopping period.
“I encourage everyone to explore and enjoy our newly traffic-free Oxford Street, as we work to create a vibrant destination that welcomes Londoners and visitors alike.”
But Westminster council has raised concerns about traffic being pushed into smaller surrounding roads by the scheme and said there was still a "long list of unanswered questions about how it will work”.
Earlier this month, the town hall wrote to ministers demanding that Transport for London carry out a full environmental impact assessment before Lord Sadiq Khan’s £150 million project goes ahead next month.
TfL sought permission to forego the full evaluation and this move was backed by the Government.
Tim Barnes, deputy leader of Westminster City Council and cabinet member for growth and planning, said: "While we finally now have a timetable for the proposed pedestrianisation, Westminster City Council, residents and businesses on Oxford Street still have a long list of unanswered questions about how it will work.
"If this is going to be the ‘greener, better and more prosperous’ success that the Mayor has promised, then issues around access, air pollution, street cleaning and public safety, need answers urgently.
"Right now there's a danger that we will have all of the downsides and too little upside. Traffic will be pushed to the small streets nearby causing economic and environmental harm. We are writing to the Oxford Street Development Corporation with our serious concerns now it is obvious the Mayor is rushing preparations with little time left.”
