M&S is challenging the government’s decision to reject its redevelopment proposal for the Marble Arch store.
- Plans involved demolishing the aged Art Deco building on Oxford Street, which M&S described as labyrinthian.
- M&S argues the secretary of state misapplied planning policy related to heritage and environmental issues.
- The rejection was based on concerns about the plan’s environmental impact and its failure to reuse existing structures.
- M&S contends that the proposed building would have been among the city’s most sustainable.
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has initiated legal proceedings against the government in response to its decision to dismiss plans for a transformative redevelopment of the Marble Arch store. The proposal, which included demolishing the Art Deco structure located on London’s Oxford Street, aimed to revamp what the company described as an ‘aged and labyrinthian’ site. M&S’s dissatisfaction stems from the belief that planning policies were misinterpreted by the secretary of state, who cited heritage preservation and environmental considerations as grounds for rejection.
In July, the proposal was turned down by Michael Gove, with the rationale that potential public benefits did not sufficiently offset the adverse effects on surrounding heritage sites and conservation areas. Additionally, the project’s carbon footprint and the proposal’s lack of utilisation of existing resources were significant factors in the rejection. This decision came despite M&S’s assertion that the new construction would substantially enhance sustainability compared to the current building.
Stuart Machin, CEO of M&S, labelled the sustainability-based rationale as ‘nonsensical’, arguing that the new building would rank within the top one per cent of London’s sustainable structures. He highlighted that it would consume less than a quarter of the energy of the existing building, slash water usage by more than half, and achieve a carbon payback period within eleven years after completion.
Sacha Berendji, M&S operations director, stated that the retailer felt ‘compelled’ to pursue legal action to counter what it sees as an unjust agenda against their scheme. M&S has vowed to challenge the government’s decision to the fullest extent permissible, with a firm belief in the merit of their redevelopment plans.
The legal challenge by M&S reflects the complexity of balancing modern redevelopment projects with heritage conservation and sustainability goals.