Marks and Spencer has been told it cannot knock down and redevelop its Oxford Street flagship store.
Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for levelling up, housing and communities, decided to refuse permission, going against the recommendation put forward by his own inspector to approve the plans.
Gove initially launched a public inquiry into proposals to flatten the 1929 Art Deco building near Marble Arch and replace it with a 10-storey retail and office block last year.
Environmentalists and heritage groups pushed back against the plans.
SAVE Britain’s Heritage argued the demolition will cause “substantial and unjustified harm to the historic character of Oxford Street,” while environmentalists have also argued that the demolition would release some 40,000 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere.
Stuart Machin, the retailer's chief executive, blasted Gove in a statement, stating “M&S is left with no choice but to review its future position on Oxford Street on the whim of one man.”
“When 42 of the 269 shops on what should be our nation’s premier shopping street sit vacant, disregarding the expert opinion and approval of the appointed planning inspector and playing to the gallery by kiboshing the only retail-led regeneration proposal is a short-sighted act of self-sabotage by the Secretary of State and its effects will be felt far beyond M&S and the West End,” Machin added.
M&S CEO @MachinStuart1 comments on Marble Arch pic.twitter.com/D6HCSHauoU
— M&S News (@MandSnews) July 20, 2023
Marks and Spencer warned last year that it would be forced to shut down its flagship store if it wasn’t allowed to rebuild the site.
Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for planning and economic development Geoff Barraclough said he hopes the retailer returns with a revised plan that is more environmentally viable.