AWARD YEAR
2021
CATEGORY
Community
GOALS
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities & Communities
KEYWORDS
Oxford, reinvention, urban planning
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
DESIGNED BY
Publica
WEBSITE
https://www.designweek.co.uk/publica-oxford-street/
Reinvention of London’s Oxford Street
Oxford Street reinvention, playoriented public area interventions, zero carbon and wildlife habitats
Urban design consultancy Publica has revealed the details of how it plans to reinvent London’s Oxford Street as the “greenest, smartest, most sustainable” district of its kind. The “ambitious” plans include a new Marble Arch visitor attraction, a pedestrian-first approach with zero-emission transport network and play-orientated public realm interventions. The proposed solutions are a mix of long-term and short-term plans, with the first lot of works expected to begin “within weeks”. Publica’s plans are part of a wider £235 million strategy to work with local stakeholders in a bid to improve the area. The plans are largely divided into long-term and short-term interventions. In the short-term, Musgrave explains much work will be taking place to prepare the area for returning visitors post-lockdown. More long-term, work has been split into four main areas: greener, smarter, future and together.