Soho’s Revival: Pedestrianising Old Compton Street
A new masterplan by architects John Lacey and Russell Potter proposes pedestrianising Old Compton Street to counteract Soho’s perceived decline. Citing issues like licensing restrictions, soaring rents, and alleged NIMBYism, the architects aim to breathe new life into the street, which has reportedly lost its energy, nightlife, and LGBT+ culture.
The core of the plan involves transforming Old Compton Street into a pedestrian-only zone, facilitating al-fresco dining and drinking in the afternoons and evenings. Deliveries, cleaning, and refuse collection vehicles would still be permitted between 7 am and 11 am. Elsewhere in Soho, the architects advocate for shared surfaces with low kerbs, improving accessibility for wheelchair users and buggies. The proposed benefits are substantial, including bringing joy and human life back to the street, cutting pollution, providing a fillip for struggling businesses, and fostering cleaner air, safer roads, and a richer civic life.
While the plan doesn’t detail specific risks of implementation, it implicitly addresses the challenges Soho faces, aiming to reverse its decline. The next crucial step involves extensive consultation with residents, businesses, and visitors to ensure community needs are met, with a formal planning application targeted for January 2026. The concept is endorsed by celebrities like Stephen Fry, who views it as an investment in London’s cultural quarter.
The proposal aligns with broader London initiatives, such as the Mayor’s plans for al fresco dining trials and the drive to pedestrianise Oxford Street. Furthermore, the idea is not unprecedented in Soho itself; Carnaby Street, the Newburgh Quarter, Chinatown, Gerrard Street, and areas behind Piccadilly Circus have successfully operated as car-free or traffic-calmed zones for decades, demonstrating the potential for Old Compton Street to rekindle its former vibrancy.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/news/new-calls-to-pedestrianise-parts-of-soho)
