The Conservatives have vowed to mount a legal challenge to Sir Sadiq Khan’s pedestrianisation of Oxford Street after winning back control of Westminster Council.
The Tories won 32 seats on the council to Labour’s 22 in what was described as “a knife edge” election.
Conservative Westminster Group Leader, Paul Swaddle, who will become the borough’s new leader, described the result as “fantastic”.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) among the Tories early actions leading the council will be setting up a legal fund to fight the Mayor of London’s Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans.
Sir Sadiq ordered for the pedestrianisation to hopefully be in place by the end of the summer after he green-lighted the plans in February.
The central London shopping street will be traffic-free from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street.
According to the City Hall documents signed by the mayor authorising the changes, traffic will be banned in “summer 2026” and a permanent design for the new layout of the street, probably including al fresco dining areas, will be published by November 2027.
CGI of plans to pedestranise Oxford StreetMayor of London's Press Office/PA WireThe mayor’s long-term vision is for the entire 1.2-mile street to be pedestrianised, from Tottenham Court Road at its eastern end to Marble Arch in the west.
Oxford Street is already mostly car-free, with only buses and black taxis permitted to use most of the street.
Cyclists could be allowed to ride along the pedestrianised sections early in the morning and late at night.
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The plans have proved controversial with hundreds of respondents opposing the changes, which will increase congestion on side roads and require 15 bus routes to be curtailed or diverted.
The promise of a legal challenge will boos the hopes of those who do not want to see the traffic-ban.
It was seen as a key issue in Westminster for the election, where Labour, Conservatives, Reform and the Greens all stood 54 candidates across the 18 wards.
Paul Swaddle at the Westminster City Council election PAThe Liberal Democrats fielded 45 nominees. One independent and one Workers Party candidate also ran.
Reform Councillor Alan Mendoza lost his seat. He represented the Abbey Road Ward as a Conservative Councillor, before defecting in November 2025.
Former Council leader, Labour’s Adam Hug held onto his seat in Westbourne.
The average turnout in Westminster was 36 percent – an increase from 31.9 percent in 2022.
A total of 46, 962 ballot papers, excluding for Queen’s Park Community Council, were verified.
“Neither Greens nor Reform made any inroads, and both of them threw quite a lot at it. So as far as that’s concerned, here in Westminster, I’m very pleased with the result,” said Cllr Swaddle.