Central London’s economy is starting to motor again as the last of the Plan B restrictions end on Thursday and hopes rise of a vigorous spring revival.
A slew of encouraging “Great Return” indicators — from office occupancy levels to train use and restaurant bookings — have boosted “cautious optimism” that the West End and City are returning to life after the hugely-damaging work from home guidance ended last week,
London offices were 25 per cent full on Tuesday — more than double the level of Monday — and ahead of any monthly average since October, according to the latest data.
Meanwhile business group New West End Company (NWEC) said that footfall in the key shopping district was up seven per cent on last month in the first three days of the working week.
The uplift was stronger at 11 per cent during the morning commuter peak. Transport for London revealed that Tube journeys were up nine per cent in a week to 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels on Thursday morning. At stations in the City and Canary Wharf demand is at 38 per cent of normal.
Network Rail said that the number of passengers using its major London stations was up 10 per cent week-on-week on Wednesday.
Business leaders hope the steady increase in the number of people coming into central London will accelerate as the mornings grow lighter and confidence builds. The uplift came as the Plan B measures ordered last month to counter the spread of the Omicron virus were lifted.
From Thursday:
- Masks are no longer a legal requirement on public transport and at indoor public spaces such supermarkets. But some retail chains including Sainsbury’s, Wilko, John Lewis and Waitrose are “recommending” customers and staff continue to wear them and Mayor Sadiq Khan has made them a condition of travel on Transport for London services.
- NHS Covid passes will no longer be needed for entry to nightclubs and to major events and venues.
- Secondary school students no longer have to wear face coverings in communal areas. Rules on masks in secondary school classrooms were dropped last Thursday.
- From Monday there will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed at care homes, self-isolation periods will be cut and retirement homes will only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 days rather than 28.
But Boris Johnson warned the public to “remain cautious” amid signs that the fall in Omicron cases may have slowed. He said: “The pandemic is not over — I urge anyone who hasn’t yet got their vaccine to come forward.”
A further 12,727 confirmed Covid infections were announced for the capital on Wednesday, down from a peak of 27,799 on December 22.
However, the figure has fluctuated over the last fortnight between 14,774 on January 20 and 9,326 on the 23rd. But there was a growing sense in Central London that some level of normality can return after two years of restrictions that have cost the capital billions of pounds.
Artjom Hatsaturjants, NWEC’s head of business intelligence, said: “We have had an encouraging start to the year with footfall picking up pace week-on-week.”
Raj Krishnamurthy, chief executive of workplace sensor firm Freespace, which provides data on office occupancy, said: “With the City’s levels already rapidly increasing since the work from home directive was lifted, this is positive news, particularly for hospitality businesses.”
Des Gunewardena, CEO of restaurant group D&D London, said: “Last week London bookings were at 65 per cent of 2019. This week they are up around 20 per cent so I’m hoping to be closer to 80 per cent. That’s positive.”
