Save Britain’s Heritage, a campaigner for historic buildings, has urged communities secretary Angela Rayner to reject retailer Marks & Spencer’s controversial plans to demolish and redevelop its 1920s building near Marble Arch.
Following M&S’s legal challenge to Rayner’s predecessor, Michael Gove, the case for 456-472 Oxford Street, W1, is now back with Rayner for review.
In an open letter to Rayner organised alongside the Architects Journal and backed by individuals including writer Bill Bryson, broadcasters George Clarke and Kevin McCloud and London Eye designer Julia Barfield, SBH said: “The future of Marks & Spencer’s flagship 1929 store at Marble Arch remains centre stage in an ongoing national debate about sustainability and the future of our high streets.
“The grounds for refusing the scheme have only grown in the three years since M&S made its planning submission, and there is now an unanswerable case for the new government to act in accelerating the industry’s shift towards reusing, repurposing and extending buildings instead of demolishing and wasting them. Make no mistake: M&S Oxford Street is a test case.”
The letter adds: “Attitudes across the built environment industry are moving rapidly in favour of prioritising retrofit for climate, resource and heritage benefits. Allowing M&S to proceed with its wasteful and polluting plan is now seen as indefensible.
“We urge you to take this opportunity to refuse M&S’s proposal and create a landmark decision in this vital area. Far from being anti-development, such a decision would be good for the development industry, good for innovation, good for heritage, and good for the climate.”
Image via Westminster City Council
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