Eight months have passed since Sir Sadiq Khan, backed by national government, announced his intention to revive his plan to bring pedestrianisation to Oxford Street by taking control of the “the nation’s high street” away from Westminster Council through the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation, which would put City Hall in charge of its future.
Since then, many words have been spoken and written about the project, and a public consultation has taken place. But there is still a long way to go before work can begin on changing this legendary retail avenue in the ways Mayor Khan is hoping for. And if one thing has become clear since his dramatic intervention last September, it is that converting Oxford Street into a tranquil, leisure and retail boulevard will entail a great deal more than simply banning motor traffic and putting down paving slabs.
The guest for the latest edition of Talk About London, a join podcast venture by On London and The London Society (of which I am a trustee), is Alexander Jan, formerly chief economist with Arup, now chief economic adviser to the London Property Alliance, chair of the Central District Alliance and Hatton Garden business improvement districts and also an On London contributor.
Alex talked me and my co-host, London Society chair Leanne Tritton, through the different and legitimate interests of local businesses and local residents, the challenges of crime, maintenance and traffic management, and the question of who will pay for it all – an array of problems to be addressed, dilemmas to be resolved and circles to be squared if Oxford Street is be transformed in a way that works well for its neighbourhood, for London as a whole and for the good of the country too.
You can listen to the podcats here or here or watch it below. Many thanks to Alex for taking part and being so eloquent, clear and comprehensive.
All previous episodes of Talk About London can be heard here and watched here.
The other strand of The London Society’s podcast output is a series called London Explained, comprising scripted documentaries researched, written and presented by me, and produced by BBC Radio 4 producer Andrew McGibbon. Our latest is about the past, present and possible futures of Brick Lane.
Both types of London Society podcast can be heard and enjoyed here.
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