Mayor 'cheated system' on Oxford Street

The Conservative leader of Westminster City Council has accused the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan of "cheating the system" over plans to pedestrianise part of Oxford Street.

Paul Swaddle said Sir Sadiq had shortcut the process by not carrying out a full environmental impact assessment.

The government confirmed on 4 September that the plans did not require one. Transport for London (TfL) says work will now begin imminently, with the first section closed to traffic as early as October.

A spokesperson for the mayor said he was pressing ahead "following strong support from Londoners and businesses".

Big schemes sometimes have to be studied for their effect on the environment before they can go ahead. Whether a particular scheme needs such a study is a separate decision, and TfL asked the government to make it.

Ministers ruled that the Oxford Street plans did not meet the legal threshold, so no assessment was required.

Speaking to BBC Radio London on Wednesday, Swaddle said: "Every major development in London has an environmental impact assessment. What the mayor has done is shortcut that process. He has cheated the system."

He said he was not predicting harm, adding: "Let's look at what the impact is and let's make sure it's mitigated where it can be."

Swaddle said residents knew the street better than many of its supporters. "A lot of the people who are saying it should be pedestrianised don't know any of the impacts," he said.

TfL said it told the council and the Oxford Street Development Corporation on 5 August that it had asked ministers to rule on the question.

The council asked the government for a copy of TfL's submission on 20 August, was sent it the next day and submitted comments on 28 August, TfL said.

TfL replaced the council as highway authority for Oxford Street in September 2025.

A first consultation ran from 28 February to 2 May 2025 and received more than 6,000 responses. A second, on the detailed transport and highway changes needed to deliver the scheme, ran from 21 November 2025 to 16 January 2026 and received more than 2,700 responses.

TfL said the responses had helped traffic engineers and bus planners take account of residents, businesses and visitors.

A spokesperson for the mayor said: "Following strong support from Londoners and businesses, the mayor is moving forward with the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street.

"Enabling works will begin imminently, with the first section expected to become traffic-free as early as October. The mayor will continue to work closely with the council and other stakeholders."

The Oxford Street Development Corporation held its first board meeting on 7 January. TfL said its board includes members representing local authorities, among them Swaddle and fellow Westminster councillor Tim Barnes.

The Conservatives took control of the council from Labour in May. Swaddle said during the campaign that the Oxford Street scheme was a major issue for voters.

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