The transformation of Oxford’s Market Street into a pedestrian-friendly zone will commence in April following the approval of Oxfordshire County Council.

The changes featured in the trial include improved surfacing, wider walkways, new cycle racks, and added outdoor seating, aimed at boosting visitor numbers to the market and businesses.

There will also be fewer loading bays, though the 24-hour access for loading and unloading will remain.

The remaining loading bays will be repositioned to improve safety and better use the available space.

Moreover, the plan includes provisions for the temporary closure of the street for hosting various events, to maximise the benefits of the public realm upgrades for a broader audience.

The county council cabinet member for transport management approved the use of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) on March 21, following a careful review of public and stakeholder feedback on the proposed changes.

Urban Movement, the design firm behind the Market Street updates, considered the feedback received during stakeholder engagement sessions held by the city council, in addition to the road safety audit process and detailed traffic surveys.

The city council’s wholly-owned direct services firm, Oxford Direct Services, is set to begin construction on April 2, with the project expected to last three weeks.

The road will be closed during this period to allow for the timely and safe implementation of the improvements.

Loading will be from Turl Street and High Street, with additional loading permitted within specific hours from Cornmarket.

Pedestrians, bicycles, and cargo bikes will have continual access to the road throughout the construction phase.

Oxford Mail: Council leader Susan BrownCouncil leader Susan Brown (Image: Contributed)

Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said: "This is an exciting time for Oxford city centre.

"The pedestrian-friendly improvements to Market Street will help to turn an underused part of the city centre into a vibrant and bustling area to support the market and other local businesses.

"It has been great to see our Covered Market going from strength to strength over the last few years and to see footfall up to higher levels than before the pandemic.

"These improvements will help support the market and allow more people to find their way there and to spend time there."

The trial earmarked for Market Street will run for 18 months during which time a formal consultation will be conducted for six months to gather public and stakeholder feedback.

Any decision regarding the permanence of the changes will be made before the end of the trial, based on the responses obtained.

The Market Street revision forms part of a more extensive £6.8m regeneration of the Covered Market, featuring extended cycle parking and potential repositioning of the toilet block.