Sadiq Khan is to reconsider a decision to wave through the demolition of Marks & Spencer’s store on Oxford Street, W1.
Earlier this month, deputy mayor Jules Pipe backed the planning approval by Westminster City Council, in a letter dated 7 March, writing that he was “content” to go with Westminster’s decision.
That is despite the fact that the scheme will contain 39,500 tonnes of embodied carbon. Offsetting this much CO2 would require M&S to plant 2.4m trees, according to Westminster’s own report on the project.
Westminster’s decision last year sparked significant backlash, with Simon Sturgis, an expert on low-carbon and the built environment, warning in a report for Cundall and the GLA that the scheme was directly at odds with London planning policy.
The deputy mayor’s decision – on behalf of Khan – to approve the scheme sparked fresh anger this week, with Sturgis telling the Architects’ Journal the mayor “isn’t serious about net zero”.
It has now emerged that the mayor’s decision, known as a stage-two report, will be reconsidered. A spokesperson for Khan said this process would take Sturgis’s report into consideration – something which did not happen previously.
A spokesperson for the mayor said Pipe’s 7 March decision was made on the basis that there was “no sound planning reason to intervene”, and that it was made “in line with London Plan policy on whole-life carbon”.
They added: “However, City of Westminster is yet to issue its planning decision, and the GLA has now published its planning guidance on whole-life carbon and circular economy.
“In light of this situation, GLA officers consider it would be prudent to consider a further Stage 2 report, which would also allow consideration of the detailed report by Simon Sturgis examining the carbon emissions impacts of the proposed demolition.
“An updated stage-two report will be presented for consideration at the mayor’s meeting on Monday 4 April.”
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