Marks and Spencer chief slams ‘pathetic’ Marble Arch rejection

The chief executive of Marks and Spencer has slammed the government’s decision to deny the demolition and redevelopment of its flagship store on Oxford Street as “pathetic”.

The company planned to demolish the existing three buildings and construct a larger 2 basement and nine-storey mixed-use development containing a retail store, café/restaurant, office, gym and a pedestrian arcade.

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, announced on Thursday his decision to refuse permission for the demolition and construction.

Planning Inspectors had recommended that the permission should be granted, however the decision is ultimately up to the Secretary of State.

Gove argued the public benefit and jobs created by the larger store were outweighed by the potential harm that could come to neighbouring heritage sites and the potential environmental impact.

The report giving reason to the Secretary of State’s denial said: “The height and appearance of the cornice of the proposed development would be prominent and distracting from the Selfridge’s façade, especially when compared with the deferential appearance of Orchard House.

“He considers that there would be a significantly detrimental impact on the setting of Selfridges. He considers that in terms of paragraph 202 of the Framework there would be ‘less than substantial’ harm to the setting, and so to the significance, of Selfridges, and further considers that this harm would be at the upper end of the ‘less than substantial’ category.”

The report continued: “The Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector at IR13.43 that there should generally be a strong presumption in favour of repurposing and reusing buildings, as reflected in paragraph 152 of the Framework. In the circumstances of the present case, where the buildings in question are structurally sound and are in a location with the highest accessibility levels, he considers that a strong reason would be needed to justify demolition and rebuilding.”

Commenting on the decision Stuart Machin, CEO of Marks and Spencer, said: “There is no levelling up without a strong, growing Capital city, but the ripple effect extends well beyond Oxford Street. Towns and cities up and down the country will feel the full effects of this chilling decision, with decaying buildings and brownfield sites now destined to remain empty as developers retreat.

“The nation’s fragile economic recovery needs Government to give confidence to sustainable regeneration and investment as well as following due process; in London and across the UK. Today the Secretary of State has signalled he is more interested in cheap shot headlines than facts and if it weren’t so serious it would be laughable.”

He added: “We have been clear from the outset that there is no other viable scheme – so, after almost a century at Marble Arch, M&S is now left with no choice but to review its future position on Oxford Street on the whim of one man. It is utterly pathetic.”