Marks & Spencer’s boss has taken intention on the Communities Secretary’s choice to dam plans for the demolition of its flagship retailer.

Stuart Machin stated Michael Gove‘s choice, which went in opposition to a advice from inspectors to approve the plans, was “laughable” and “utterly pathetic”.

The retailer’s chief govt stated the ruling meant that he should now assessment its future on London’s Oxford Street, thought of the prime retail location within the nation.

Mr Gove had ordered an inquiry into the corporate’s proposals that meant flattening the 1929 Art Deco constructing close to Marble Arch.

M&S wished to interchange it with a a lot bigger 10-storey retail and workplace block final yr after the plans had acquired help from native authorities.

But the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirmed on Thursday that Mr Gove had “decided to refuse permission”.

The authorities report raised considerations that its public advantages have been offset by the potential hurt to close by heritage landmarks and criticised the environmental affect of the redevelopment.

Mr Gove discovered that further storeys of workplaces can be extra obvious than the present website and have a “significantly detrimental impact on the setting of Selfridges” division retailer close by.

The carbon footprint and failure to reuse some current sources was additionally thought of a cause for permission to be blocked.

Mr Machin responded: “After a two-year process where our proposals were supported at every stage, our investment in 2,000 jobs, building one of the most sustainable buildings in London, improving the public realm and creating a flagship store, is now effectively in the deep freeze.

“Today the Secretary of State has ignored his appointed professional David Nicholson who really helpful approval of our scheme.

“When 42 of the 269 shops on what should be our nation’s premier shopping street sit vacant, disregarding the expert opinion and approval of the appointed planning inspector and playing to the gallery by kiboshing the only retail-led regeneration proposal is a short-sighted act of self-sabotage by the Secretary of State and its effects will be felt far beyond M&S and the West End.

“The nation’s fragile financial restoration wants authorities to present confidence to sustainable regeneration and funding in addition to following due course of; in London and throughout the UK.

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“Today the Secretary of State has signalled he is more interested in cheap shot headlines than facts and if it weren’t so serious it would be laughable.

“We have been clear from the outset that there isn’t any different viable scheme – so, after nearly a century at Marble Arch, M&S is now left with no alternative however to assessment its future place on Oxford Street on the whim of 1 man. It is totally pathetic.”

Westminster City Council stated it hoped that the corporate would return with a revised scheme.