Oxford Street pedestrianisation set to go traffic‑free in October
Westminster council leader Paul Swaddle accuses Mayor Sadiq Khan of bypassing an environmental impact assessment after ministers ruled none was required
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Transport for London announced that construction on the Oxford Street pedestrianisation will start imminently, with the first stretch expected to be closed to vehicles as early as October 2026. The plan follows a ministerial ruling that the scheme does not require a full environmental impact assessment, as confirmed on 4 September 2026.
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Paul Swaddle, the Conservative leader of Westminster City Council, told BBC Radio London that the mayor “cheated the system” by not carrying out a comprehensive assessment. He said, "Every major development in London has an environmental impact assessment. What the mayor has done is shortcut that process," as reported by the BBC.
Every major development in London has an environmental impact assessment. What the mayor has done is shortcut that process.
Paul Swaddle, Westminster council leader
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A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirmed that ministers ruled the Oxford Street plans did not meet the legal threshold for an environmental impact assessment, meaning the study was not required. The decision was reported by the BBC.
Public consultations
The first consultation on the scheme ran from 28 February to 2 May 2025 and attracted more than 6,000 responses. A second consultation, focusing on detailed transport and highway changes, took place from 21 November 2025 to 16 January 2026 and received more than 2,700 responses. TfL said the feedback helped engineers consider the concerns of residents, businesses and visitors.
Next steps
TfL said enabling works will begin imminently and the first traffic‑free section could open in October 2026. A mayoral spokesperson reiterated that the mayor is moving forward "following strong support from Londoners and businesses" and will continue to work closely with Westminster council and other stakeholders, as reported by the BBC.
Questions this report answers
+When will the first part of Oxford Street become traffic‑free?
TfL expects the first section of the pedestrian scheme to be closed to traffic as early as October 2026. The work is set to start imminently, following the ministerial ruling that no environmental impact assessment is required.
+Why does Paul Swaddle say the mayor cheated the system?
Swaddle argues the mayor bypassed the usual requirement for an environmental impact assessment on a major development. He said the mayor shortcut the process, a claim he made on BBC Radio London and which the BBC recorded.
+How many people responded to the consultations on the Oxford Street scheme?
The first public consultation, held from 28 February to 2 May 2025, received more than 6,000 responses. The second consultation, from 21 November 2025 to 16 January 2026, gathered more than 2,700 responses, according to TfL.
+What did the government decide about the need for an environmental impact assessment?
On 4 September 2026 the government confirmed that the Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans did not meet the legal threshold for an environmental impact assessment, meaning the study was not required. This ruling was reported by the BBC.
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