Revitalising Soho: Plans for a Car-Free Old Compton Street

Architects John Lacey and Russell Potter have unveiled a masterplan to pedestrianise Old Compton Street in Soho, aiming to revitalise an area struggling with declining nightlife, LGBT+ culture, and energy due to licensing restrictions, soaring rents, and alleged NIMBYism. The proposal defines Old Compton Street as a pedestrian-only zone, facilitating extensive al-fresco dining and drinking, while still allowing vehicle access for deliveries, cleaning, and refuse collection between 7 am and 11 am.

Key benefits of this plan include restoring vibrancy and human activity, significantly reducing pollution, and providing a crucial boost to ailing local businesses. The architects also suggest implementing shared surfaces with low kerbs in other parts of Soho to improve accessibility for wheelchair users and buggies. Celebrities like Stephen Fry endorse the initiative, highlighting its potential for cleaner air, safer roads, and a richer civic life by prioritising people over cars in this culturally significant district.

While the article doesn’t explicitly list risks, it notes the scheme is in its early stages, developed in consultation with Westminster Council but currently lacking official backing or funding. The next steps involve extensive community engagement with residents, businesses, and visitors to ensure the plan aligns with local needs before a formal planning application in January 2026.

This isn’t an entirely new concept for London or even Soho. Old Compton Street previously thrived under similar conditions during the Covid recovery. Successful precedents within Soho include Carnaby Street and the Newburgh Quarter, car-free since the 1970s, and Gerrard Street/Chinatown, pedestrianised for 40 years. More recent examples, such as streets behind Piccadilly Circus (e.g., near The Devonshire), demonstrate the positive impact of removing traffic. The initiative also aligns with broader London plans, including the Mayor’s al-fresco dining trials and the drive to pedestrianise Oxford Street, suggesting a car-free Old Compton Street could similarly rekindle its former buzz.

(Source: https://londonist.com/london/news/new-calls-to-pedestrianise-parts-of-soho)