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Agenda item

Oxford Street District - Project Approach

Report of the Executive Director, Growth, Planning and Housing

Minutes:

7.1     Barbara Brownlee, Executive Director for Growth, Planning and Housing, introduced a report that set out the City Council’s approach to developing a district wide solution for the area spanning Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch, and including the surrounding neighbourhoods to the north and south. The area will be referred to as the Oxford Street district.

 

7.2     Barbara Brownlee explained that the City Council will develop a place based strategy for the Oxford Street district. The new approach will build on the evidence base compiled to date by the Council and Transport for London (TfL) and when necessary supplement it. A key part of the evidence base is the feedback from residents, both formally and informally. The Council will consult those in the four affected wards referenced in the report. She advised that the project development will comprise of four stages and will take place in conjunction with the development and implementation of the Oxford Street safety scheme, which will look at traffic calming and other measures, to mitigate the impact of increased footfall following the opening of the Elizabeth Line.

 

7.3     The Executive Director for Growth, Planning and Housing tabled an amendment to the recommendation in the report that related to the revenue funding for the project. She explained that contrary to officers’ initial understanding which was based on historic assumptions, the 2018/19 Local Implementation Plan Allocation did not include funding for Oxford Street. She advised that the Council was able to fund fully the development of a set of feasibility/concept options for the district through a reallocation of revenue funding.

 

7.4     Councillor Richard Beddoe, Cabinet Member for Place Shaping and Planning, stated that the two previous public consultations on the transformation of Oxford Street West had been insightful. The Council could have implemented the previously proposed full-scale pedestrianisation of Oxford Street West despite not having the support of local residents. However, the proposals would have only ever provided a partial solution to a small section of Oxford Street whilst ignoring wider issues. He believed that the new district wide approach would provide a more holistic solution.

 

7.5     The Leader of the Council hoped that the development of a district wide solution will be supported by the Mayor of London as she believed that it would respond to his objectives for Oxford Street as well as those of the City Council.

 

7.6     RESOLVED:

 

            That Cabinet:

 

1.          Endorsed the new approach for the Oxford Street District Project as detailed in the report;

 

2.          Agreed the Governance outlined in the report;

 

3.               Approved the revenue funding of £727,000, made up of a reallocation of the council’s own revenue for the development of a place based solution and a set of feasibility/concept options for the district; and,

 

4.               Noted plans to bring forward necessary safety works and governance associated with the development and implementation of the specific Oxford Street safety scheme ahead of the opening of the Elizabeth Line and during 2019, which will be subject of a separate Cabinet Member Report.

 

Reasons for Decision  

1.               The Leader of the City Council on 7th June announced that there is a need to be hugely ambitious to ensure the district’s long-term success by future proofing Oxford Street and the surrounding area so it remains the pre-eminent, retail focused, outdoor shopping destination in the UK.

2.               In December 2017, the Leader and Deputy Leader issued eight pledges to residents, created to assure residents that the City Council would safeguard their amenity by insisting that no scheme would be approved that failed to meet their concerns. Feedback from residents in the consultation report, confirmed that 61% of Westminster residents did not support the partial pedestrianisation of Oxford Street (Orchard Street to Oxford Circus). Subsequent statements from the City Council, made clear that the scheme consulted upon had not achieved a local consensus.

3.               In these circumstances, the City Council considers it necessary to devise other solutions that will transform the district and meet concerns expressed.

4.               The previous project structure to devise a solution for Oxford Street was developed within a joint team with Transport for London. This produced a significant body of information about the district. Going forward, the City Council will lead the project and consequently a new governance and operational structure is needed as outlined. We will continue to liaise and work closely with residents, stakeholders and partners (Mayor/Greater London Authority, TfL and New West End Company) to develop new solutions.

5.               Resources are needed to provide staffing and commissions to facilitate work to devise a new solution(s).

6.               Work on the options to ensure a safe street and district prior to the opening of Elizabeth Line is currently being progressed and will be presented for decision to the Cabinet Member for Environment and City Management in July 2018. This will advise the Cabinet Member of any required works aimed at ensuring the street and district is safe given the increase in forecast passengers associated with the gradual impacts of the Elizabeth Line opening.

 

Supporting documents: