London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced he will move ahead with “bold plans” to pedestrianise Oxford Street.
Under the proposed changes, traffic will be banned for a 0.7-mile (1.1km) stretch of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Oxford Circus up to Great Portland Street.
The hope is that it will attract more people once again to this shopping mecca, which has seen a decline in footfall in recent years with the growth of online shopping and out-of-town retail parks.
With department stores such as Selfridges opening in the early 1900s, Oxford Street soon became a premier shopping destination.
Today it is still classified as an area of critical national economic importance, contributing around £25bn to London’s economy annually.
Through pedestrianising the street, the aim is to not only draw shoppers but to also offer other attractions such as al fresco dining and outdoor events.
Khan said: “We want to rejuvenate Oxford Street [and] establish it as a global leader for shopping, leisure...