M&S gets green light for Oxford Street rebuild plan

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Nov 25, 2021

Marks & Spencer’s Orchard House flagship store on London’s Oxford Street is to be demolished. But it’s being replaced with a new ‘megastore’, albeit half the size of the current 13,653 sq m Marble Arch store.

Although it’s unknown when the work will begin, the new building is expected  to be completed in 2027 with M&S taking only the ground floor and basement.

The building is to be bulldozed after the 90-year-old building failed to get protected status from the mayor of London and the government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). 

The new 10-storey building, including a basement, was given planning permission by Westminster City Council this week. Councillors voted 4-1 in favour of the development.

Apart from M&S, the new space will also include offices, a restaurant, cafe, and gym.
However, the proposed new building proposals have already received criticism for destroying “one of Oxford Street’s most loved buildings” and heritage campaigners think the new building will “stick out like a sore thumb next to Selfridges”.