London mayor Sadiq Khan plans to ban traffic on Oxford Street

The now Labour-run Westminster City Council, which is responsible for the central London street, said it was blindsided by Mr Khan’s plans – only finding out details on Thursday – but it would “work constructively” with the mayor.

Stuart Love, Westminster City Council chief executive, said pedestrianisation posed “practical challenges” and it was waiting for details on “how long it could take to be delivered and how the concerns of local residents and users of the street will be addressed”.

The council said it already developed a ready to go £90m plan, half-paid for by landowners, to deliver wider footways and reduced congestion.

But crucially their plan would maintain direct bus access to Oxford Street which they said was important to shoppers, workers, disabled, elderly, and those on low incomes.