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ARTICLE · 14 AUGUST 2023

Marks And Spencer Decision: Prioritising Retrofitting Over Redeveloping

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On a called-in application, notwithstanding the Planning Inspectors positive recommendation, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (SoS) has rejected planning permission...

United KingdomReal Estate and Construction
Hayley Cole
Hayley Cole

Does the Marks and Spencer decision reveal the future of Government policy for demolition and redevelopment?

On a called-in application, notwithstanding the Planning Inspectors positive recommendation, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (SoS) has rejected planning permission for demolition and development of Marks and Spencer's flagship Oxford Street store. In rejecting the plans, the SoS focused on two main aspects - heritage and sustainability.

Heritage

A significant consideration in the SoS's refusal, and one to which he gave "very great weight", was the harm of the new building to the setting and significance of the designated heritage assets. In particular, the proposed development "would be prominent and distracting from the Selfridge's façade".

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