Marks & Spencer has been given permission to demolish its 94-year-old building in Oxford Street to make way for a new development.
The retailer will knock down the flagship store at Marble Arch and wants to use that space and two adjoining units to build a smaller M&S store, pedestrian arcade, offices, cafe and gym as part of a nine-storey development.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner granted permission on Thursday to bring to an end a planning dispute that has dragged on for four years.
While M&S bosses have celebrated the planning victory, the scheme has been controversial and all sides have been unhappy about the lengths of time involved.
This is how it has played out.
When was the M&S on Oxford Street built?
Construction began on the building in 1929 and the art deco design took shape over the next year before opening on November 5, 1930.
At the time the London Evening News reported: “This impressive building at the corner of Oxford Street and Orchard Street has been transformed in the space of 17 days from an empty shell of bare walls into a worthy neighbour of the renowned fashion houses… It adds a new feature to the famous attractions of the West End.”
What is happening to M&S Oxford Street?
It will be knocked down and replaced with a newer building but, as the Standard’s Jonathan Prynn commented, the road to this point has been an “unholy farce” of planning.
Westminster City Council approved M&S’s plans to demolish the flagship Oxford Street store in November 2021.
The food and fashion chain argued that the shop is “hugely inefficient” and suffers from declining sales – in contrast to its other Oxford Street store – in part due to its “complex and confusing layout”.
Henrietta Billings, director of Save Britain’s Heritage, said the proposals would mean the loss of a “handsome landmark”.
She added that it would also be in contravention of the council’s net zero targets because of the huge amount of energy needed to knock down and replace the three buildings.
After further criticism about the environmental impact, Michael Gove, who was then housing secretary, ordered a suspension of the project for further scrutiny. In 2023, he ruled against it.
But, after a high court case, M&S won its bid and the building is now set to be demolished – with Ms Rayner granting approval.
What was the high court decision on M&S Oxford Street?
Back in March, high court judge Mrs Justice Lieven ruled in favour of M&S, delivering a damning judgment that the then Conservative Government had misunderstood planning policies and made a series of flawed or unexplained decisions.
As housing secretary, Angela Rayner was given the final say after Labour returned to power in July – and agreed with the high court this week.
Is M&S Marble Arch closing down?
The Marble Arch destination store will be replaced by a new nine-storey building that would include retail space, a cafe, a gym and an office.
