Oxford Street American candy stores to disappear and be replaced by ‘flagship’ shops, says Sadiq Khan
Sadiq Khan has suggested that granting City Hall extra powers over planning in Oxford Street will mean American candy stores and vape shops will be replaced by 'flagship' stores. The Mayor of London announced a plan to ban traffic from the world-famous shopping destination on Tuesday morning (September, 17).
Mr Khan told MyLondon on the roof of the John Lewis that afternoon that the Greater London Authority (GLA) is going to 'transform the public realm', making Oxford Street greener and better lit. He described getting rid of cars, buses and taxis as the 'first step', adding that he expects there to be more CCTV.
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On American candy stores and vape shops, the Mayor added: "One of the things about setting up a Mayoral Development Corporation is we're in charge of planning, which is really important. But what we do know, from other streets that have been pedestrianised, is it leads to fewer vacancies, bigger occupancy."
Mr Khan then said, on average across London's high streets, the vacancy rate is 10 per cent. On Oxford Street, it is 14 per cent. This 'attracts' vape shops and candy shops.
'I used to work here - a good street attracts good shops'
The Mayor added: "A successful street will be attracting good quality, flagship stores. We've lost Topshop, we've lost House of Fraser, we've lost Debenhams. I know from when I was a boy, when I was a teenager, when I was a young man, and I used to work here, a good street attracts good shops. A street that's in managed decline doesn't."
On a timescale of when these shops will be replaced with better ones, Mr Khan said he wants to 'get going as soon as possible'. "I want to sprint in relation to seeing progress on this street," the Mayor added.
But he stopped short of naming which shops he wanted to see on Oxford Street in the coming years, telling media that he 'doesn't want to jinx it'. The new Mayoral Development Area, is subject to statutory consultation and consideration by the London Assembly.
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