M&S has launched a legal challenge against the government’s decision to reject its plans to redevelop its Marble Arch store.
The retailer’s operations director Sacha Berendji said the appeal had been lodged as it believes secretary of state Michael Gove had “wrongly interpreted and applied planning policy, to justify his rejection of our scheme on grounds of heritage and environmental concern”.
He added: “It is hugely disappointing that after two years of support and approvals at every stage, we have been forced to take legal action to overcome a misguided agenda against our scheme, and we will be challenging this to the fullest extent possible.”
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Gove rejected M&S’ redevelopment plans, which would have seen the Art Deco building demolished last month, over concerns that the public benefits of the proposal did not outweigh the harm to nearby landmarks, including the grade II listed Selfridges building and nearby conservation areas.
However, Selfridges bosses had earlier come out in support of M&S’s redevelopment plans.
The proposal’s failure to reuse existing sources, such as converting the current buildings, and the scheme’s carbon footprint were also cited as reasons.
M&S boss Stuart Machin termed the decision “laughable” and “utterly pathetic” at the time and said it would be forced to review its future at the store.
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