The High Court has approved an application for a judicial review from Marks & Spencer after levelling up secretary Michael Gove blocked plans to redevelop the retailers flagship Oxford Street store.
The retailer had submitted plans to replace its central London store with a new shop and large office block.
The appointed inspector recommended approval of the scheme. Mr Gove, however, decided in July to refuse permission due to concerns over the heritage and environmental impact on the area.
Commenting on the High Court’s decision, Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Machin said he was ‘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’, and that the firm has ‘been clear from the very start that the refurbishment of the existing store was not possible’.
