Even more of London’s West End could soon be pedestrianised, with new plans for Piccadilly Circus

Londoners rejoiced last month when the highly anticipated, and sometimes contentious, Oxford Street pedestrianisation project took a major step forward. Following a public consultation, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that there was ‘overwhelming public and business support’ for the initiative, and that his office would be ‘moving ahead as quickly as possible’. 

Now, another section of the West End could see vehicles banned completely. Proposals have been put forward to pedestrianise Regent Street St James’s – the road to the south of Piccadilly Circus that runs between Piccadilly and St James’s Park – and to make the on-foot area of Piccadilly Circus bigger. 

The scheme by Westminster City Council and The Crown Estate could also see improved cycle lanes on Regent Street and the introduction of two-way traffic on Haymarket. It also wants to see the ‘greening’ of Regent Street, with better pedestrian crossings and the removal of the island running down the centre of the road. 

While traffic-free streets might seem like a modern idea, in fact this proposal reimagines a plan put forward by John Nash 200 years ago, Westminster Council said. 

Geoff Barraclough, cabinet member for planning and economic development at Westminster City Council, said the plans would create ‘a new network of public spaces’.

He added: ‘This is a rare opportunity to reimagine the heart of the West End as a greener, more welcoming and accessible place that works better for residents, visitors and local businesses alike.’

Naysayers, you can hold your horses (or cars) for now. We won’t know the outcome of the future of this scheme, including how it will be funded, until it is decided by the Crown Estate in 2026.  

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