The development of this new plan, and its intended aim of creating an inclusive and safe evening and night-time economy, is something that we are supportive of.
New West End Company is a partnership of 600 retail, restaurant, hotel and property owners across the world’s top shopping and leisure destination, anchored by Bond Street, Oxford Street, Regent Street and Mayfair. The West End is an important economic and cultural hub, contributing 3% of London’s GVA annually.
As the Business Improvement District representing this district, we have a number of concerns which we feel should be taken into account by the before finalisation of the Westminster After Dark Plan. In summary, our concerns are:
- The lack of context provided around the varying drivers of crime, particularly in relation to geographical area and concentration (or lack thereof) of licensed premises;
- The misleading categorisation of areas across Westminster, including the conflation of Soho with the West End’s key shopping streets of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street. This categorisation obscures the commercial importance of Oxford Street, in particular, to both the local and national economy;
- The implementation of Late Night Entertainment Zones, including that proposed on Oxford Street.
These concerns are broken down in greater detail here.
