Councils Warned of Risks of High Street Pedestrianisation
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Councils Warned of Risks of High Street Pedestrianisation
Image source: AVR London/Mayor of London
Image caption: The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street in London has been subject to much discussion
By Joshua Nevett, Political Reporter
Published 16 October 2026, 08:59 BST
Updated 1 hour ago
The UK government has warned councils against ill-considered plans to pedestrianise high streets in England.
In evidence submitted to an inquiry by MPs, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said pedestrianisation can make high streets "more attractive, safe and welcoming".
However, the department added that "the process needs to be well considered", warning that removing traffic could make high streets less accessible and damage local economies.
"Local leaders pursuing pedestrianisation must be aware of the risks and work to mitigate them, within a broader spatial strategy," the evidence states.
The evidence was submitted to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, which is investigating the action needed to revitalise England's high streets.
An MHCLG spokesperson said the government had not issued formal guidance to local authorities on pedestrianisation.
The government is due to publish a new strategy on high streets later this year.
"We support local leaders to make their own choices about pedestrianisation based on the needs of their communities," the spokesperson said.
"Our upcoming high streets strategy will also set out more detail on how we are bringing high streets back to life and making sure they are accessible for everyone."
Studies suggest banning cars from high streets has become increasingly common in city and town centres across the UK.
Some councils attempted pedestrianisation experiments during the Covid pandemic, which sparked debates about the use of outdoor public spaces.
But the pedestrianisation of some high streets has proved contentious, particularly in London, where Mayor Sadiq Khan has clashed with the local council over plans to make Oxford Street traffic-free.
Parts of Oxford Street will be pedestrianised from 26 October.
The London mayor's spokesperson said he was focused on making high streets "cleaner, greener and more pleasant places to spend time, and helping to drive economic growth and prosperity".
"Pedestrianisation can help reduce conflict between vehicles and pedestrians, making high streets more attractive for visitors and shoppers," the mayor's spokesperson added.
They further stated that the Greater London Authority would use data and feedback from the Oxford Street scheme to "understand how a range of people will use the newly pedestrianised space, and help refine the design of permanent improvements".
Most pedestrianisation schemes are immediately countered by some level of local opposition, said Professor Lee Ivett, who heads the School of Architecture at the University of the Built Environment.
He told the BBC that while opposition usually focuses on short-term disruption to local businesses, evidence does suggest that pedestrianisation increases the economic viability of high streets in the long run.
But he said pedestrianisation had to be paired with improvements in public transport to realise those economic benefits.
"If you want to defeat the argument that a reduction in the amount of traffic will reduce the amount of trade, then you need to also be able to make an argument that an investment in public transport infrastructure is actually going to be the vehicle that still keeps high streets vibrant," Professor Ivett concluded.