London’s most iconic retail corridor, Oxford Street, is about to undergo one of the most significant public realm transformations in decades and construction companies operating in the West End must now prepare for major changes to traffic routes, site access, logistics and deliveries.
As part of a new consultation, the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) have released detailed proposals outlining how Oxford Street will transition into a pedestrian-first zone between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. The scheme forms part of a wider regeneration strategy supported by both the Government and the London Assembly.
While the consultation is primarily aimed at the public, the impact on the construction supply chain will be immediate and long-lasting.
Below is a breakdown of what the sector must be aware of.
Key Changes Affecting Construction Logistics
Full Closure to Vehicles
The proposed section will be closed to all motorised vehicles, including:
- Construction vans & pickups
- HGVs and articulated lorries
- Taxis, PHVs
- Cycles, scooters and pedicabs
Only service and delivery vehicles will be allowed, and only between:
⏰ Midnight – 07:00
This means all construction-related deliveries, muck-away, plant movement and material handling for sites in the Oxford Street and side-street catchment will need to be rescheduled to overnight hours.
Alternative Routes Will Become the New Standard
General traffic is already restricted between 07:00 and 19:00, but under the new scheme:
- Traffic diversion routes will become permanent
- Construction vehicles must use Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place and surrounding corridors
- Expect tighter traffic flow, especially during peak construction hours
Contractors working on:
- façade refurbishments
- fit-outs
- roofworks
- M&E upgrades
- basement and structural works
…should plan for longer travel times and altered access routes for deliveries and waste removal.
Bus Rerouting = Changing Roadspace Dynamics
Buses currently using Oxford Street will be rerouted via Wigmore Street and Henrietta Place.
Though TfL estimates journey times increase by less than a minute, for construction vehicles:
- Higher bus flow = reduced loading opportunities
- Bus stops and shelters being relocated = tighter kerbspace
- More pedestrian activity on secondary streets
This will influence traffic management plans, site logistics strategies and access/egress sequencing for ongoing projects.
Impact on Blue-Badge, Taxi Ranks & Drop-Off Zones
TfL is planning:
- Increased blue-badge bays
- New taxi ranks
- Dedicated drop-off spaces near the restricted zone
Construction planners should expect kerbspace conflicts and the need for early coordination with Westminster City Council for temporary traffic orders (TTROs), parking bay suspensions and material loading zones.
Cycling Bans on Oxford Street → New Cycle Routes
Cycling will be prohibited in the pedestrianised zone. New designated cycle routes will divert flow around the perimeter — increasing interaction between cyclists and:
- site HGV movements
- skip exchanges
- concrete wagon access
- MEWP delivery points
Contractors may need updated:
- RAMS
- Traffic Management Plans (TMPs)
- Cyclist-awareness protocols (CLOCS / FORS compliance)
Formation of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC)
A new Oxford Street MDC will take control of:
- planning
- regeneration
- development oversight
For construction and development projects, this means:
- Different planning pathways
- Potentially faster approvals
- Stricter compliance with the new public realm strategy
- Closer coordination required with a new authoritative body
This MDC is expected to be legislated and active by 1 January.
Contractors tendering for 2026–2028 work must plan ahead now.
What Construction Companies Should Do Immediately
- Review upcoming and active projects within 300–500m of Oxford Street
- Update delivery windows to overnight logistics (00:00–07:00)
- Assess risk to programme delays due to diverted HGV routes
- Engage early with Westminster City Council for parking suspensions
- Expect increased pedestrian interactions → enhance on-site traffic controls
- Review your FORS/CLOCS compliance, especially if using articulated vehicles
- Communicate early with clients on potential impacts to cost, programme and access
Despite some local concerns, the regeneration has overwhelming support from Londoners and businesses. For the construction sector, the transformation of Oxford Street presents:
- A major pipeline of public realm work
- Retail refurbishments and fit-outs
- Basement and structural upgrade opportunities
- Transport and mobility infrastructure packages
- Medium- to long-term development investment due to the new MDC
This is a significant urban redevelopment moment and construction firms positioned early will benefit most.
The outlined red dashed boundary illustrates the zone where planning, regeneration and public realm changes will be overseen by the new Mayoral Development Corporation.
The map highlights key transport stations, main routes, open spaces, retail areas, and the wider Westminster and Camden borough boundaries affected by the regeneration programme.