US architect HOK says buses are suffocating Oxford Street

Reducing bus congestion on Oxford Street is likely to be a key component of US architect HOK's masterplan for the regeneration of London's West End.

Presenting the first draft of the plan at last week's MAPIC convention in Cannes, HOK international director Phillip Wren said: 'At peak times, Oxford Street carries 600 buses an hour. It's getting a coronary.'

HOK believes it can halve the number of buses on the street by forcing through-routes to terminate at Marble Arch or Tottenham Court Road, where passengers would transfer to shuttle buses for Oxford Street.

Wren said: 'We need a fundamental change on transport to get the step change we need.'

Wren also revealed that HOK is investigating ways of creating a number of public squares on Oxford Street, tied in with major new property developments.

- According to a London Chamber of Commerce survey, 79 per cent of shops in the congestion charging area have suffered a fall in takings.