Marks & Spencer reports that the Secretary of State’s planning decision blocking the redevelopment of its Marble Arch Store has been ruled "unlawful" by the High Court.
After planning permission to redevelop the London store was refused – a move described by M&S CEO Stuart Machin last July as "a short-sighted act of self-sabotage" – the retailer sought a judicial review (see related).
M&S' operations director, Sacha Berendji, says: “This judgment couldn’t be clearer, the court has agreed with our arguments on five out of the six counts we brought forward and ruled that the Secretary of State’s decision to block the redevelopment of our Marble Arch store was unlawful.
"The result has been a long, unnecessary and costly delay to the only retail-led regeneration on Oxford Street which would deliver one of London’s greenest buildings, create thousands of new jobs and rejuvenate the capital’s premier shopping district.
"The Secretary of State now has the power to unlock the wide-ranging benefits of this significant investment and send a clear message to UK and global business that the Government supports sustainable growth and the regeneration of our towns and cities.”
