// M&S has claimed that SAVE, the campaigners its proposed demolition and rebuild of its Marble Arch store, have made concessions during the public inquiry, however the group denies this
// The inquiry ended on Friday last week
Marks & Spencer has claimed that SAVE, the campaigners against the demolition of its Marble Arch flagship, has accepted the retailer’s sustainability analysis and admitted its own alternative design would also require “significant demolition”.
M&S’s lawyer, Russell Harris KC, flagged the concessions as the public inquiry into the controversial demolition of the flagship store was drawn to an end on Friday.
Harris said: “No party is asserting that there actually is another, better way of achieving these or substantially similar benefits either through refurbishment or at all. The highest that it is put is that there might be.”
M&S has maintained that its proposed rebuild had “long-term sustainability benefits” and was a forward-thinking scheme.
During the eight day hearing, M&S claims that SAVE came to accept its independent expert Arup’s sustainability analysis, which M&S said was “a significant move on their part”.
However, SAVE has since refuted the alleged concesssions.
M&S also highlighted that there were no witnesses on sustainability called to the inquiry that was expected to focus on carbon emissions of the develoment.
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SAVE’s lead architectural expert Simon Sturgis also admitted under questioning that its altervative design would require significant demolition to the existing site, including modifying the Orchard House façade and the removal of a 1930s staircase.
SAVE clarified that Sturgis said that “roughly a quarter” of the floorplate would need to make taken out.
M&S said that showed “the impossibility of retrofit at the site” and supported its argument for redevelopment.
The retailer has already been backed by other big names such as Ikea and Selfridges, who argued that the new premises would be beneficial for Oxford Street.
M&S insisted that its argument of “long-term sustainability benefits” has been accepted by SAVE and the development was “the only viable and deliverable plan to establish a Marble Arch site which is better for customers, colleagues and the communities it serves”.
M&S operations director Sacha Berendji said: “Two years ago we launched our proposal to redevelop Marble Arch and deliver a significant and sustainable investment into Oxford Street, which has been supported at every stage.
“Extensively setting out our case again to the inquiry has confirmed to us that this is absolutely the best and only way to deliver a Marble Arch which is fit to serve and support our customers, colleagues, communities and the planet for the next century and beyond”.
