Breaking news: Marks & Spencer has been granted permission by the High Court to demolish its flagship store on Oxford Street, quashing the government’s refusal of planning permission for a new shop.
The High Court ruled that the rejection of Marks & Spencer’s demolition plans by the UK’s levelling up secretary Michael Gove was unlawful, the UK retailer has revealed on X.
This victory means Marks & Spencer can move ahead with its plans to replace the art deco building with a new store designed by architecture studio Pilbrow & Partners.
Marks & Spencer initiated a legal challenge against Gove that was heard in the high court last month, the Guardian has reported.
According to the retailer’s operations director Sacha Berendji, the court agreed with five of the six arguments it brought forward against Gove.
“Today’s judgment couldn’t be clearer, the Court has agreed with our arguments on five out of the six counts we brought forward and ruled that the secretary of state’s decision to block the redevelopment of our Marble Arch store was unlawful,” Berendji said.
“The result has been a long, unnecessary and costly delay to the only retail-led regeneration on Oxford Street which would deliver one of London’s greenest buildings, create thousands of new jobs and rejuvenate the capital’s premier shopping district,” he continued.
More to follow.
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