Two specialized design teams are being sought to transform Oxford Street, one of Britain's most famous shopping destinations in central London, into a pedestrian-friendly zone. The ambitious project, led by City Hall, is expected to begin in September as part of comprehensive plans to overhaul key sections of the nation's premier shopping street.
The first design team will be responsible for leading the initial phase of the Oxford Street Transformation Programme, focusing specifically on the stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. This crucial assignment includes developing detailed public realm proposals for nearly a mile of the street's most iconic section, requiring extensive planning for pedestrian infrastructure, street furniture, and urban design elements.
Meanwhile, the second team will tackle a broader scope, creating a comprehensive concept design for the entire length of Oxford Street, spanning from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road. This full-scale vision will serve as the blueprint for the complete transformation of the historic thoroughfare.
According to the Greater London Authority (GLA), both design teams will be selected from the Mayor of London's Architecture and Urbanism Framework. However, practices within this framework are actively encouraged to collaborate with additional specialists and experts from both the United Kingdom and international markets to bring diverse expertise to the project. Sources indicate that the project fee has not been disclosed publicly and is neither fixed nor capped, suggesting the significant scale and importance of this urban transformation initiative.
The current tender process follows extensive public consultation conducted by City Hall last year, which addressed pedestrianization proposals and traffic modifications for the street. Additionally, the consultation process included establishing a mayoral development corporation to oversee the ambitious project. Communities Secretary Angela Rayner is expected to provide final approval for the creation of an Oxford Street development company later this year, with the entity potentially becoming operational by January 2026.
Public support for the transformation has been notably strong, with City Hall reporting that 69 percent of consultation respondents endorsed the overall plans. More specifically, 66 percent of respondents expressed support for the pedestrianization aspects of the project, indicating broad community backing for removing vehicle traffic from significant portions of the shopping district.
The current initiative represents a significant shift from previous political positions on Oxford Street's future. In 2018, Westminster City Council, under its former Conservative leadership, rejected earlier proposals to pedestrianize Oxford Street. However, the political landscape has evolved, and the council has recently unveiled separate but related plans to partially pedestrianize substantial areas of the Piccadilly and Haymarket districts in central London.
This complementary project features a masterplan designed by Allies and Morrison, which overlaps with but remains distinct from the mayor's Oxford Street scheme. The Allies and Morrison plan would eliminate vehicle traffic from approximately six streets that branch off from Regent Street, creating a network of pedestrian-friendly zones throughout the area.
The Piccadilly and Haymarket transformation includes significant public realm improvements at Piccadilly Circus and Pall Mall, designed to create new walking and cycling routes. These enhanced pathways will connect to Trafalgar Square to the east of the masterplan area and extend north of Regent Street, positioned opposite the BBC's New Broadcasting House.
The comprehensive masterplan introduces extensive cycling infrastructure and green spaces throughout the designated area, stretching from the John Nash-designed All Souls Church near the BBC headquarters to the bustling Piccadilly Circus. The project encompasses an impressive 35,000 square meters of traffic-free public space, equivalent to approximately five football fields of newly accessible pedestrian areas.
Project organizers have indicated that the winner of the GLA tender will be announced before September, setting the stage for rapid implementation of the transformation plans. The Oxford Street pedestrianization represents one of London's most significant urban planning initiatives in recent years, promising to reshape how millions of visitors and residents experience one of the world's most famous shopping destinations.
