UK government warns councils about risks of pedestrianising high streets

The key facts

The MHCLG ministry warned that pedestrianisation requires careful planning and can reduce street accessibility and harm the economy
There are no official guidelines for local councils; a new high streets strategy will be published by the end of the year
Part of Oxford Street will become pedestrianised from 26 October; in Newbury a trial evening pedestrianisation was scrapped after 75% of survey respondents did not support it

Ministry's warning to the parliamentary committee

The UK government has warned local councils in England about the risks of poorly thought-out pedestrianisation of high streets. In written evidence to the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, which is investigating measures to revive high streets, the MHCLG ministry noted that pedestrianisation can make streets 'more attractive, safer and welcoming', but 'the process must be well thought out': removing traffic can reduce accessibility and harm the local economy. 'Local leaders pursuing pedestrianisation must be aware of the risks and work to mitigate them within a wider spatial strategy,' the document says.

The government's position and the forthcoming strategy

An MHCLG spokesperson said the government has not issued formal guidance for local authorities on pedestrianisation and supports the right of local leaders to make their own decisions based on the needs of communities. A new high streets strategy, containing details on reviving streets and ensuring accessibility for all, is expected by the end of the year. According to research, banning cars on high streets is becoming increasingly common in UK city centres; some experiments were carried out during the Covid pandemic, which stimulated discussions about the use of public spaces.

Oxford Street and the Mayor of London's position

The pedestrianisation of a number of streets remains contentious, especially in London: Mayor Sadiq Khan clashed with the local council over plans to make Oxford Street traffic-free. Part of the street will be pedestrianised from 26 October. The mayor's spokesperson said Khan is focused on making high streets 'cleaner, greener and more pleasant places' and promoting economic growth, adding that pedestrianisation can reduce conflicts between traffic and pedestrians. The Greater London Authority will use data and feedback on the scheme to understand how people use the new space and refine the design of permanent improvements. Ten years passed from Khan's first idea in 2016 to its implementation.

Expert opinions and regional examples

Professor Lee Ivett, who heads the School of Architecture at the University of the Built Environment, told the BBC that most pedestrianisation schemes initially face a certain amount of local resistance, usually related to short-term inconvenience for businesses, but the data indicates that in the long term pedestrianisation increases the economic viability of streets. In his words, to achieve this effect it needs to be combined with improvements to public transport. The government has previously supported making streets pedestrian-friendly: the 2021 strategy, adopted under the Conservatives, called for designing city centres to be attractive for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. Pedestrianising roads is a lengthy legal process involving consultations with residents and impact assessments. Last month, West Berkshire Council ended a trial evening pedestrianisation in Newbury, which was opposed by 75% of participants in a public survey. By contrast, most of Stevenson Square in Manchester's Northern Quarter became a permanent pedestrian space after a successful trial.