After a challenging two years for London’s West End, Westminster City Council has announced a £190 million investment in the area, aimed at supporting its recovery and “future proofing” it for decades to come.
A large chunk of the money (£150 million) will be spent on Oxford Street, Aldwych and the Strand, redesigning the areas to make them more pedestrian-friendly.
With establishments in central London struggling to find staff, post-lockdown and Brexit, the council has also launched a £1 million fund to help recruit bar staff and waiters. The scheme will bring together job seekers and colleges with the hospitality industry.
Leader of the council Rachael Robathan said: “At the heart of the capital, Westminster has a special role in the nation’s economy – we generate more than £60billion a year and support one in eight jobs in the capital.
“As the local authority area with more restaurants, bars and cafes than any other in the country, we feel we have a special obligation to support the hospitality industry, which is why we have today announced our new £1m recruitment scheme. The venue owners work night and day to support jobs; the council can play its part by providing trained staff for those jobs.”
In addition, the council will organise free public art installations and performances to attract tourists and visitors back to the West End as well as giving the streets a deep clean.
To help the high street, the council also wants the government to introduce a new tax on online sales while reintroducing VAT-free shopping and easing visa restrictions for foreign tourists.
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