Principal Project Officer​/Public Realm

Principal Project Officer (Public Realm)

The Oxford Street Transformational Programme Team is being established to deliver on the mayor’s bold ambitions for Oxford Street.

Oxford Street is an area of critical national economic importance, with an estimated contribution of £25bn in 2022. But the area has suffered in recent years due to a combination of the pandemic, the growth of online shopping and out-of-town shopping centres. The Mayor’s proposals – working alongside government, businesses and local councils – could include future plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street and transform it into an exciting, green and thriving destination for Londoners and tourists alike.

The aim is for the street to become the world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure, and outdoor events.

The Oxford Street Transformation Programme would help to attract more international visitors, bringing the world to London and showcasing the best of London to the world, while also acting as a magnet for new investment and job-creation, driving growth and economic prosperity for decades to come. Any future proposals would aim to:
• create a beautiful pedestrian-friendly public space for exciting events and activities to make Oxford Street a place for all.
• design with sustainability in mind, to make the area more resilient to the impact of climate change.
• create a well-designed, high-quality space that showcases the best of London’s talent, assets and opportunities.
• host exciting events to showcase and test the potential of a new and more inviting public realm.

At the end of the 2-year fixed term, there may be an opportunity for this role to transfer into any MDC that is established, subject to consultation and confirmation of the detailed organisational design.

The team is focused, high performing and collaborative.

Good Growth

Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration (where the programme is not housing led), enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.

About the role
• To support the development and subject to consultation early implementation of the Mayor’s proposals to transform Oxford Street into a world-leading destination, supporting the Senior Planning, Design and Delivery Manager.
• To support the Senior Planning, Design and Delivery Manager in the scoping and subject to consultation delivery of public realm design and activation plans, which promote urban regeneration and economic growth in the Oxford Street area.
What your day will look like

The primary focus of this role will be the public realm aspects of the project:
• Support the Senior Planning, Design and Delivery Manager to deliver the development and delivery of the programme.
• Support engagement and relationship management with internal and external stakeholders, including boroughs, to represent and promote the programme, and to influence their work on related regeneration, planning or transport projects.
• Support the design management function of the Oxford Street Transformation Programme to ensure the Mayoral commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is embedded at the outset and that the highest design quality is delivered across all commissioning processes.
• Support the development and implementation of public realm design proposals – coordinating with TfL on highway design and external partners and agencies as necessary. Manage or oversee procurement of consultants as necessary to deliver the programme.
• Support the development of activation plans for the Oxford Street area, ensuring that public realm design supports these aspirations.
• Support the Senior Planning, Design and Delivery Manager to prepare and present reports, briefs and recommendations on key issues and actions to the Head of Programme, the Mayor’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner and Mayor’s Office to facilitate effective understanding and decision making.
• Potentially coordinate strategic advice on town planning matters affecting the delivery of the Oxford Street Transformation Programme – in particular the…