An impression of how Oxford Street could look if pedestrianisation is given the go-ahead

SIR Sadiq Khan’s plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street could blight local investment, cause an uptick in crime, and “destroy” the area if mismanaged, London Assembly members were warned this week.

Chair of The Soho Society Tim Lord told them the mayor’s proposal had created uncertainty for developers and that pedestrianisation on a nearby street had previously led to an increase in crime.

Sir Sadiq announced in September that, with support from the government, he would press ahead with pedestrianisation.

His plans were announced despite Labour-led Westminster City Council having already set out “shovel-ready” plans for an £150million transformation of the wider area, which sought to make the street more pleasant for pedestrians while crucially “maintaining vehicular access on the street”.

Mr Lord told the assembly’s planning and regeneration committee that the mayor’s intervention had disturbed a consensus among residents.

“All of that work has now been lost and wasted, because of a press release from the mayor in September saying he might consider pedestrianisation,” he said.

That had triggered all the businesses to pull their funding from the city council’s scheme. “The residents are pretty disappointed, because inst-ead of having a certainty for improvements to Oxford Street that would already be under way, we are now back in the world of an enormously contentious – with the local community – idea about pedestrianisation, which has been proposed in the past.”

The mayor’s plan involves creating am MDC, mayoral development corporation, around the street, removing it from the sole control of the council.

The Soho Society chair Tim Lord

Mr Lord said: “We might have a different planning policy for the mayoral development area than we do for the rest of Westminster. So, in my view, there was a tragic mistake in September because we had a scheme that was ready to go, that everybody agreed with, and we’re now going back to another massive uncertainty as to where we’ll end up. And that’s what’s going to slow down investment.”

Mr Lord said: “There are 40,000 reported crimes a year in the West End ward, 2,000 robberies, 2,000 violent assaults and 500 sexual assaults. The West End ward has something like 75 per cent of all the public realm crime in Westminster, so there are really serious crime problems and I think the visitors are beginning to notice it.”

He added: “The thing that we’ve raised, because we’re worried about it, is this suggestion that there can be a massive increase in the night-time economy on Oxford Street.

“There might be, but in our experience in Soho, if you mismanage late-night, alcohol-led activity, the crime rapidly grows out of control, and the police do not have the resources to deal with it.

“So that has to be front of mind, because you could destroy all of this, you could really destroy Oxford Street if it becomes a centre for crime.”

City council leader Adam Hug told the committee he was glad that aspects of the council’s pre-existing plans for the street were being incorporated into the mayor’s proposals.

But he said: “It is a different set-up. It’s not one we would have chosen and it’s not one we think is wholly necessary to do this, but we understand where the mayor is coming from.”

A spokesperson for the mayor said: “Oxford Street is an area of critical national economic importance, contributing billions to London’s economy.

“A revitalised Oxford Street would increase visitor numbers, create new jobs, and boost retail and growth for London and the rest of the UK.

“The mayor is working closely with local businesses, residents and local authorities while he consults on proposals to pedestrianise Oxford Street and create a mayoral development corporation, which would super-charge regeneration and unlock the potential of Oxford Street as we continue to build a better London for everyone.

“The mayor encourages everyone to respond to the public consultation he launched in February by May 2.”