Client/s

The Crown Estate in partnership with Westminster City Council

Project Bio

AN ATKINS PROJECT.
Oxford Circus is one of the most congested spaces in the country. It is used by over 43,000 people and 2,000 vehicles every hour, and forms part of 23 London bus routes. The stairways to the tube station at the corners of the circus are used by 230,000 people a day.
As part of the Oxford, Regent and Bond Street (ORB) Action Plan, we worked with The Crown Estate, Transport for London and Westminster City Council to alleviate the congestion, remove clutter, increase footway space, and deliver new crossings, including two diagonal route options that allow people to move more freely around the heart of London’s retail district.
Nearly half of the street furniture has been removed (balustrades, traffic signs, bins, etc.) The £5m junction is able to handle double the number of pedestrians. More than 500m of pavement has been widened and new lighting added.
Work was completed in November 2009 with the new diagonal crossings opening to widespread praise, and the scheme has already realised time cost savings that are calculated to be higher than the cost of works – effectively paying for itself in 6 months.