Asda chairman Lord Stuart Rose has slammed Michael Gove’s decision to block M&S’s redevelopment plans for its Marble Arch flagship.
The former M&S chief executive told The Telegraph: “I cannot for the life of me understand why he wants to intervene on this particular building.”
Gove rejected the high street retailer’s proposals that would see the Art Deco building housing its Marble Arch store demolished last month.
The communities secretary said M&S’ plans failed to support the transition to a low carbon future and risked harming the area’s heritage.
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Lord Rose said: “Why Michael Gove wanted to stick his sticky fingers into it is a complete loss to me.
“What Marks & Spencer wanted to do was completely sensible. It’s a very difficult store to lay out and, quite simply, the store is not fit for purpose.”
Gove’s decision has sparked conversations among retail leaders about the current state of Oxford Street.
Watches of Switzerland chief executive Brian Duffy said the street was turning into a “national embarrassement”.
There is “no question that more needs to be done” to revive the West End shopping destination, he said.
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