London’s Oxford Street is one of the world’s most famous streets, contributing around £25 billion annually to London’s economy and attracting 120 million visitors a year. Despite this, the area has suffered in recent years due to a combination of the pandemic, the growth of online shopping and other factors. There is an urgent need to transform Oxford Street into an exciting, thriving destination for Londoners and tourists alike – giving the nation’s high street a new lease of life. This is not a ‘typical’ public sector project, and delivery at speed is essential.

To realise this vision, the Mayor of London has decided to establish the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC). OSDC will operate as a Mayoral Development Corporation with full planning authority powers for Oxford Street and its immediate surroundings. OSDC will be responsible for the revitalisation of the area – including working with partners to deliver on the Mayor’s ambitions to pedestrianise Oxford Street (subject to consultation), deliver exceptional public realm, host events, and ensure an exciting mix of businesses and activities on the street. Stakeholder collaboration will be critical, and success will depend on developing and maintaining strong relationships with landowners, retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, local authorities (Westminster and Camden), and the wider business community.

To enable these ambitious plans, the Greater London Authority (GLA) is looking to appoint OSDC’s inaugural Chair to promote and deliver the corporation’s purpose on behalf of the Mayor. Leading the board, the Chair will ensure the delivery of the corporation’s strategic objectives and act as an ambassador for the corporation, engaging key stakeholders and representing OSDC in the media and at public events. It is anticipated that OSDC and its new Chair will begin by 1 January 2026.

The GLA is looking for an entrepreneurial and highly experienced non-executive Chair to lead the OSDC Board. Strategically strong, they will be adept at navigating complex stakeholder environments and developing consensus in environments where multiple views, concerns and objectives exist. The GLA is open to a variety of professional backgrounds and it is anticipated that retail, leisure, hospitality and real estate, culture and arts – and ideally a combination of some of these sectors – could add particular value to the agenda.

This role represents a rare opportunity to make a tangible difference to one of the world’s best-known and most iconic streets and, by extension, to the economy, reputation and appeal of the nation’s capital city. To find out more, including details of how to apply, please follow this link.