December 6th 2024.
The iconic Marks and Spencer store on Oxford Street, which has stood since 1920, is now set to be demolished. After three years of delays, the retail giant has finally been granted permission to tear down the building and rebuild it nine stories high. This historic art deco building, known as Orchard House, has been a staple on the corner near Marble Arch for over a century, even before M&S opened its doors in 1930.
In 2021, the company applied for approval from Westminster Council to demolish the site and redevelop it. However, despite receiving approval from the council, the plans were rejected by the government due to opposition from heritage and sustainability experts. The housing secretary at the time, Michael Gove, intervened and refused the plans in July 2023. M&S CEO Stuart Machin condemned this as "obfuscation and political posturing at its worst." Fortunately, a High Court judge ruled in favor of M&S earlier this year, stating that Mr. Gove had misinterpreted national planning policy and did not provide sufficient reasoning for his decision.
Now, with the green light from Labour's Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, M&S can finally move forward with their plans. In a statement, Mr. Machin expressed his excitement to "rejuvenate the UK's premier shopping street" and create a flagship store and office space that will support 2,000 jobs and set a global standard for sustainability. He also commended the government's efforts to revitalize cities and towns and promised to move forward with the project as quickly as possible.
The approval of this redevelopment has been welcomed by Dee Corsi, the chief executive of the New West End Company, which represents 600 shops, restaurants, and property owners in the West End. She believes that this decision sends a positive message to businesses across the UK, especially those in flagship high street locations that drive economic growth. The redevelopment of M&S's flagship store at Marble Arch will not only solidify the West End's status as a global shopping destination, but also show international investors that the UK is open for business.
In other London news, plans for a new mega-cycle lane that will run from city wall to city wall have been unveiled, the world's first YMCA has been shut down and sold to a hotel chain after 180 years, and pickpockets at Winter Wonderland have been targeting mobile phones. For the latest news from the capital, visit Metro's London news hub.
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