A report released today by a commission headed by former Land Securities chief Ian Henderson was immediately endorsed by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.
As reported by Property Week (13.10.06 news, front page) the recommendations include:
-Urgent action to sustain and develop the area’s unique offer as a retail centre, while addressing the congestion and crowding in the area.
-The need for better coordination between the various public sector agencies responsible for the area: the Mayor of London, Transport for London and Camden and Westminster City Councils.
-The situation regarding Crossrail to be resolved as a matter of urgency.
-Urgent action to improve the eastern end of Oxford Street
The Mayor last year asked Ian Henderson, chairman of the New West End Company, to set up and lead the commission to look at the development of the West End’s shopping district.
Livingstone said: ‘I agree with the emphasis that Ian and his team have placed on the importance of transport to the West End and that they rightly flag up how critical Crossrail is to this area. The current uncertainty is blighting development of key parts of the West End and this will add strength to the arguments I am making to Government about Crossrail.’