\n<\/p>\n
LONDON \u2013 Part of London\u2019s Oxford Street, Britain\u2019s busiest shopping thoroughfare, went permanently traffic-free on Monday in an effort to revitalise the area \u200band create a new public space to boost economic growth.<\/strong><\/p>\n An almost \u200c1-km (0.6-mile) section of Oxford Street between the Selfridges and IKEA stores is now closed to buses, cars, taxis, cycles, scooters and pedicabs, the office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan \u200bsaid.<\/p>\n The move has been more than two decades in the making. It \u200band a wider regeneration project aim to put Oxford Street \u2060back among top global shopping destinations including New York\u2019s Times Square, Paris\u2019 Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es \u200band Barcelona\u2019s La Rambla.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter so many false dawns, and now working with a \u200bgovernment who share the scale of my ambition, I\u2019m proud that we\u2019re finally unlocking a new era for the street,\u201d Khan said.<\/p>\n \u201cRevitalising Oxford Street will boost jobs and economic growth \u200bin the capital.\u201d<\/p>\n Oxford Street, connected to Bond Street and Regent Street and \u200bhome to John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Tiffany & Co and many others, has struggled since the \u200cCOVID pandemic, \u2060with the arrival of US candy stores putting off many shoppers.<\/p>\n The pedestrianisation is the first stage of a transformation, although minimal construction will take place during the run-up to Christmas, a busy shopping period.<\/p>\n Plans for 2027 include more \u200bthan 50 new trees, \u200b100 new seats, \u2060two public squares, rest areas and better signage and lighting.<\/p>\n Oxford Street attracts around half a million visitors every day, \u200baccording to the mayor\u2019s office, but many flagship stores including \u200bHouse of \u2060Fraser and Topshop have shut in recent years, and Khan said the area had been neglected.<\/p>\n \u201cThis marks an exciting new chapter for Oxford Street, creating a greener, \u2060more \u200bvibrant place that will attract visitors and investment, \u200bsupport businesses and jobs, and drive growth in the heart of our capital,\u201d British housing, communities and \u200blocal government minister Angela Rayner said.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n