Sadiq Khan’s Oxford Street Plan Linked to a 28% Rise in Store Spending

Sadiq Khan’s push to pedestrianise Oxford Street is being held up as an example of how bold infrastructure decisions can benefit local businesses. The London mayor’s changes have drawn criticism from opponents, but new figures cited in the article suggest spending at shops on the famous shopping street has increased. Data from payments company Adyen puts Oxford Street store spending at £3.7 million, compared with £2.9 million during the same period a year earlier — a rise of 28%. The article cautions that the comparison includes the Christmas shopping period in both years, when seasonal spending typically lifts totals. The figures challenge warnings from critics who had predicted that removing cars would leave the area struggling to attract visitors. Instead, the article argues, the spending increase offers evidence that changes to the street have not driven shoppers away. Khan’s pedestrianisation initiative is presented as a case for pressing ahead with projects despite opposition and lengthy planning processes. The piece broadens the argument beyond London, contending that delays, consultations and complicated applications can hold back construction, housing and transport schemes. Its central point is that projects intended to improve communities and support growth should not be stalled indefinitely by political disputes or local resistance. Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s chief executive, is also invoked in the article’s wider discussion of Britain’s approach to growth. The piece refers to comments attributed to him about the country’s growth culture and notes Nvidia’s enormous business valuation, while acknowledging that news coverage had recently raised allegations about his personal life. The article’s main focus, however, is Khan’s Oxford Street changes and the spending figures presented in their support.