Oxford Circus is set to receive a ÂŁ4 million makeover to help ease congestion for shoppers at the busy London intersection.

Westminster City Council has begun testing a Japanese-inspired design for the area. If approved, it will allow pedestrians to walk diagonally across the Oxford Circus intersection for the first time.

Work is due to begin on the scheme next summer and is expected to last nine months.

New West End Company chief executive Richard Dickinson has given the proposals his support.

“The proposed Oxford Circus Diagonals are just one of many outstanding enhancements resulting from£1 billion of investment into London’s West End over the next four years,” said Dickinson.

Plans are also under way to widen the pavements of Oxford, Regent and Bond Street to make them more shopper-friendly.

Dickinson added: “Nine out of 10 visitors to London come to the West End, so we have a duty to ensure that it continues to be the world’s top shopping destination in 2012.”

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