The High Court has approved Marks & Spencer’s application for a judicial review of Michael Gove’s decision to refuse planning approval for its store redevelopment at Marble Arch, W1.
M&S said it made the application because “we believe the secretary of state wrongly interpreted and applied planning policy to justify his rejection of our scheme on grounds of heritage and environmental concerns”.
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said: “We are pleased that the court has recognised the merits of our legal challenge on every one of the six counts that we raised, and approved our case to proceed to the next stage.
“We have been clear from the very start that the refurbishment of the existing store was not possible, so this is only the first step in the lengthy process of overturning the government’s senseless decision to reject our Marble Arch proposal – the only retail-led regeneration on Oxford Street.
“With our investment and the amazing plans we have to transform the site into a modern, sustainable building it remains bewildering that we are again having to go through this after two years of support and approvals. But we will do everything necessary to secure a better future at Marble Arch for our local customers and community.”
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