On London Latest: Money talks

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Morning has broken with numerous rewritings of yesterday’s embargoed press release from City Hall announcing the results of the consultation about Sir Sadiq Khan’s Oxford Street transformation plans. This edition of On London Latest will start - but not finish - by falling right into line.

The headline news is that at least two-thirds of responses were in favour, with almost all of those specifically “supporting the idea of pedestrianisation”. Proposals for putting that idea into effect for the section between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street are promised for later this year.

City Hall hopes a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), the governance structure that will take control of Oxford Street and some of its surroundings away from Westminster City Council and place them in the hands of the Mayor, will be established “by 1 January 2026”.

There is, though, a long way still to go. Take note that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s latest expression of support - and the MDC’s creation needs government approval - doesn’t mention providing any money for the scheme.