M&S has been granted approval by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government to redevelop its flagship Marble Arch store, after almost four years of delays and legal battles.
The approval allows the high street giant to move forward with plans to demolish the three buildings it occupies and replace them with a 10-storey mixed-use development, including a new flagship store and office space. The project includes a smaller M&S store, offices, a pedestrian arcade, a café, and a gym.
M&S CEO Stuart Machin said: “I am delighted that, after three unnecessary years of delays, obfuscation and political posturing at its worst, under the previous Government, our plans for Marble Arch – the only retail-led regeneration proposal on Oxford Street – have finally been approved.
“We can now get on with the job of helping to rejuvenate the UK’s premier shopping street through a flagship M&S store and office space, which will support 2,000 jobs and act as a global standard-bearer for sustainability.
“We share the Government’s ambition to breathe the life back into our cities and towns and are pleased to see they are serious about getting Britain building and growing. We will now move as fast as we can.”
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New West End Company CEO Dee Corsi added: “Today’s decision by the Government sends a strong and positive signal for businesses across the UK, particularly in flagship high street locations which are key drivers of economic growth.
“The redevelopment of Marks & Spencer’s flagship store at Marble Arch will help cement the West End’s status as a global destination for shoppers and office workers alike, revitalising Oxford Street West and reinforcing the message to international investors that the UK is firmly open for business.”
The approval follows a High Court ruling in March, which overturned former Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s July 2022 decision to block the plans.
At the time, Machin called the decision “utterly pathetic” and defended the proposals as essential for the area’s revitalisation.
Gove raised concerns about the potential harm to nearby landmarks, including the grade II-listed Selfridges building, and questioned whether the benefits outweighed the environmental impact of demolition.
The project drew criticism from campaigners, architects, and public figures, who argued for retrofitting the existing buildings instead.
However, M&S reassured that the current structure was “impossible to modernise” and described it as a “confusing warren” unsuitable for both customers and staff.
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