Oxford Street Needs More Variety To Become No. 1 Destination Again

According to a new council chairman, Oxford Street needs fewer stores and more eateries and cultural establishments to regain its status as the UK's top shopping street.

The extended pedestrianisation of the roadway and the plans to build a pedestrian "piazza" at Oxford Circus have both been formally scrapped.

The "mix" of businesses needed to alter, according to Geoff Barraclough, cabinet member for planning and economic development in the incoming Labour administration of Westminster council. He further added that everyone agrees that Oxford Street should be the country's top shopping street.

What is Famous About Oxford Street?

If you don’t know, Oxford Street is Europe's busiest retail corridor. Over 200 million people visit it annually, and it contains over 300 stores. It is located in the heart of London, the largest metropolis in Europe, and its length of 1.8 kilometres makes Oxford Street a popular destination. In addition, Tottenham Court Road station is located on the back end of Oxford Street, and Marble Arch is located at the other. As a result, it is one of the world's busiest cities and one with the most business and retail activity. 

Oxford Street is the centre of London, and it is one of the busiest and most commercial / shopping-driven cities in the world. Around 200 million tourists came to the region yearly before the pandemic. So for tourists wishing to buy souvenirs, clothing, shoes, or just about anything else, Oxford Street is a popular destination.

Along with the big department stores like John Lewis, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, and Selfridges, the Street is also home to the flagship locations of Nike, H&M, Adidas, and Topshop. In addition, there are countless smaller shops selling practically anything you may want, including sportswear, jewellery, electronic products, toys, books, apparel, and shoes.

The New Business Mix

Mr Geoff Barraclough goes on to say that 1.8 kilometres of shop space is simply not necessary. The commercial mix needs to shift. It is necessary to combine cultural, recreational, and hospitality uses. He seems eager to back this combination.

Additionally, Melvyn Caplan, the deputy head of the council, believes that visitors no longer just come to Oxford Street for the stores. Instead, experiences and destinations appeal to people.

In his 2015 mayoral candidacy for London, Sadiq Khan advocated for pedestrianisation, which was backed by other parties. He promised that the roadway would be entirely pedestrianised by 2020 after winning the election. As part of his intentions to combat air pollution, the mayor wanted to restrict all vehicles, including buses and taxis, from the shopping area. The project was accelerated in 2017 so that it may be finished by the end of 2023, i.e., the following year. Locals, Westminster City Council, and the Fitzrovia Business Association had all expressed opposition to the plan.

The Elizabeth line's new station at Bond Street won't open until the fall. Still, the council's former Tories administration abandoned the plans to partially pedestrianise the street with London Mayor Sadiq Khan to provide more space for the passengers.

Oxford Street has "poor quality" public domain, high traffic and pollution, and few amenities, the council warned last year, adding that its present condition does not reflect its importance.

According to Mr Barraclough, the previous administration spent barely £70,000 on the street itself while squandering the £35 million allocated for the Street’s improvement, including £6 million on the Marble Arch mound disaster.

The piazza plans, which the Tories placed on hold in November, were "cancelled," he said. He further declared that Oxford Street would not be blocked. Furthermore, the Street will not be made pedestrian-only. Right now, doing that is not appropriate.

Redevelopment Strategies

The council is looking into 30 firms, including confectionery shops and souvenir shops selling "low quality" items, for possible business rates evasion of £7.9 million. Counterfeit products worth more than £574,000 have been taken.

It has also written to 28 freeholders, pleading with them to see the harm that such establishments do to the reputation of the street.

Dozens of dockless hiring bikes that were discovered abandoned on sidewalks have been taken away.

Mr Barraclough claimed that landlords that permit creative "pop ups" to occupy vacant stores are eligible for a two-thirds rebate on business rates.

He also hinted that the council was willing to restructure the street via compulsory purchase orders, which are typically avoided due to their expense and complexity. However, he continued by adding that the government would take serious action if the landowners resisted any kind of change.

As part of the recently unveiled dollar 150 million OSD plan, which will feature a pedestrian-first approach and a zero-emission transport network, Oxford Street will also shortly undergo redevelopment. As a result, the year 2022 has been dubbed "the year of delivery" for Oxford Street, with many urgent improvements beginning in the next few weeks.

To demonstrate sustainability, innovation, culture and plurality, a temporary project will be installed on Oxford Street itself as part of the strategy's first phase.

Temporary mediation could revitalise and rethink the nation's high streets for security, and novel patterns of use, inviting back the residents to the area after the lockdown and creating a festive mood.

Oxford Street will have more footway space thanks to the project, allowing for secure remote access.

Places like Bird Street junction, Marble Arch islands, Davies Street junction, outside Selfridges in the West Oxford Street; Newman Street junction, Rathbone Place junction and Soho Square in the East Oxford Street; and Hills Place junction, Great Titchfield Street/ Market Place, Winsley Street junction, Old Cavendish Street junction, Holles Street junction in the Oxford Circus are the initially suggested locations for the temporary scheme, which includes planned footway widening.

Final Thoughts

A budget of £150 million over three years for Oxford Street development was authorised by the City of Westminster Council in February 2019. This is a positive step because this famous street needs improvements, which have been overdue. However, despite these changes, Oxford Street will still be a hazardous, congested, and polluted area. This will only worsen with 150,000 more daily station entries and departures brought on by the Elizabeth Line.

While some initiatives will get underway soon, others require more money and design work. With these developments, it is hoped that the famous street will enter a new era. However, up until then, continued investment and business revitalisation will be required.