Rayner has approved the renovation plans for M&S on Oxford Street (Image: Getty)
Marks and Spencer will be able to bulldoze and rebuild its Oxford Street store after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner gives the plan her approval.
Ms Rayner, who also serves as Secretary of State for Housing, gave the go-ahead for the renovation after “taking into account all of the evidence” in the case.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Labour's bad politics is paving the way for a Tory comeback
161 Comments
ITV GMB's Susanna Reid shuts down Labour MP with brutal five-word reply in winter fuel row
4 Comments
Rachel Reeves fails to repeat pledge over 'no new taxes or borrowing'
3 Comments
Keir Starmer's slapstick Cabinet show Labour still hasn't learned its lesson
326 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1320 Comments
Cruel Rachel Reeves takes winter fuel payment from her OWN elderly mother
530 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
171 Comments
BBC's Laura Kuenssberg skewers Angela Rayner as Labour's popularity 'falls of a cliff'
518 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out more tax rises before next general election
39 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
Wales tourism concerns erupt as new '￡33m' plan feared to deal blow to industry
25 Comments
EU on the brink as German tax scandal to rock Olaf Scholz collapsed government
35 Comments
Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out tax rises despite ￡40bn of hikes in Budget
496 Comments
Eurozone meltdown as bloc's 'survival at risk' over imploding French government
160 Comments
Angela Rayner declares war on NIMBYs as councils ordered to build 1.5 million homes
201 Comments
Liz Kendall's winter fuel hypocrisy after claiming up to ￡350 a month in energy bills
1321 Comments
Labour savaged keeping VAT on audiobooks branded 'persecution of blind people'
24 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted over Brexit betrayal as she plots major 'reset' with EU
1368 Comments
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch need to do one thing more if they want to win
1 Comments
Angela Rayner skewered over workers' rights plans in awkward BBC grilling
179 Comments
Labour's bad politics is paving the way for a Tory comeback
161 Comments
ITV GMB's Susanna Reid shuts down Labour MP with brutal five-word reply in winter fuel row
4 Comments
Rachel Reeves fails to repeat pledge over 'no new taxes or borrowing'
3 Comments
Keir Starmer's slapstick Cabinet show Labour still hasn't learned its lesson
326 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1320 Comments
Cruel Rachel Reeves takes winter fuel payment from her OWN elderly mother
530 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
171 Comments
BBC's Laura Kuenssberg skewers Angela Rayner as Labour's popularity 'falls of a cliff'
518 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out more tax rises before next general election
39 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
Wales tourism concerns erupt as new '￡33m' plan feared to deal blow to industry
25 Comments
EU on the brink as German tax scandal to rock Olaf Scholz collapsed government
35 Comments
Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out tax rises despite ￡40bn of hikes in Budget
496 Comments
Eurozone meltdown as bloc's 'survival at risk' over imploding French government
160 Comments
Angela Rayner declares war on NIMBYs as councils ordered to build 1.5 million homes
201 Comments
Liz Kendall's winter fuel hypocrisy after claiming up to ￡350 a month in energy bills
1321 Comments
Labour savaged keeping VAT on audiobooks branded 'persecution of blind people'
24 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted over Brexit betrayal as she plots major 'reset' with EU
1368 Comments
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch need to do one thing more if they want to win
1 Comments
Angela Rayner skewered over workers' rights plans in awkward BBC grilling
179 Comments
Labour's bad politics is paving the way for a Tory comeback
161 Comments
ITV GMB's Susanna Reid shuts down Labour MP with brutal five-word reply in winter fuel row
4 Comments
Rachel Reeves fails to repeat pledge over 'no new taxes or borrowing'
3 Comments
Keir Starmer's slapstick Cabinet show Labour still hasn't learned its lesson
326 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1320 Comments
Cruel Rachel Reeves takes winter fuel payment from her OWN elderly mother
530 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
171 Comments
M&S has been trying to get approval for the plan for years, having first submitted the proposals five years ago.
The renovation was first blocked by Michael Gove when he was Housing Secretary.
The dispute became a point of tension between M&S and the Conservatives when they were in government, but Ms Rayner's decision has finally brought the battle to a close.
The plans have been on the table for five years (Image: Getty)
The move also indicates the Labour government's eagerness to improve relations with businesses in the UK after Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled her ￡40billion tax raid in October.
CEO of M&S, Stuart Machin, was one of many bosses to sign a letter hitting out at Ms Reeves' Budget.
But he has praised the Labour Government for greenlighting the Oxford Street stores renovation.
He said: “I am delighted that, after three unnecessary years of delays, obfuscation and political posturing at its worst, under the previous government, our plans for Marble Arch – the only retail-led regeneration proposal on Oxford Street – have finally been approved.”
Mr Gove had thwarted the plans because he feared it would “fail to support the transition to a low carbon future, and would overall fail to encourage the reuse of existing resources, including the conversion of existing buildings."
Don't miss...
Angela Rayner skewered over workers' rights plans in awkward BBC grilling [POLITICS]
Angela Rayner humiliated as councils say plan to build 1.5m homes is impossible [NEWS]
'Ed Miliband shoots Rachel Reeves in foot in latest Labour party madness' [LATEST]
Michael Gove had blocked the renovation (Image: Getty)
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
In response, M&S accused the Tories of being "anti-business."
However, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has now issued a 144 page ruling explaining why the renovation will now get the go-ahead.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Labour's bad politics is paving the way for a Tory comeback
161 Comments
ITV GMB's Susanna Reid shuts down Labour MP with brutal five-word reply in winter fuel row
4 Comments
Rachel Reeves fails to repeat pledge over 'no new taxes or borrowing'
3 Comments
Keir Starmer's slapstick Cabinet show Labour still hasn't learned its lesson
326 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1320 Comments
Cruel Rachel Reeves takes winter fuel payment from her OWN elderly mother
530 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
171 Comments
BBC's Laura Kuenssberg skewers Angela Rayner as Labour's popularity 'falls of a cliff'
518 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out more tax rises before next general election
39 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
Wales tourism concerns erupt as new '￡33m' plan feared to deal blow to industry
25 Comments
EU on the brink as German tax scandal to rock Olaf Scholz collapsed government
35 Comments
Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out tax rises despite ￡40bn of hikes in Budget
496 Comments
Eurozone meltdown as bloc's 'survival at risk' over imploding French government
160 Comments
Angela Rayner declares war on NIMBYs as councils ordered to build 1.5 million homes
201 Comments
Liz Kendall's winter fuel hypocrisy after claiming up to ￡350 a month in energy bills
1321 Comments
Labour savaged keeping VAT on audiobooks branded 'persecution of blind people'
24 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted over Brexit betrayal as she plots major 'reset' with EU
1368 Comments
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch need to do one thing more if they want to win
1 Comments
Angela Rayner skewered over workers' rights plans in awkward BBC grilling
179 Comments
Labour's bad politics is paving the way for a Tory comeback
161 Comments
ITV GMB's Susanna Reid shuts down Labour MP with brutal five-word reply in winter fuel row
4 Comments
Rachel Reeves fails to repeat pledge over 'no new taxes or borrowing'
3 Comments
Keir Starmer's slapstick Cabinet show Labour still hasn't learned its lesson
326 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1320 Comments
Cruel Rachel Reeves takes winter fuel payment from her OWN elderly mother
530 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
171 Comments
BBC's Laura Kuenssberg skewers Angela Rayner as Labour's popularity 'falls of a cliff'
518 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out more tax rises before next general election
39 Comments
Tiny island that's one of the richest in the world - and had 'no fresh water' 60 years ago
5 Comments
Wales tourism concerns erupt as new '￡33m' plan feared to deal blow to industry
25 Comments
EU on the brink as German tax scandal to rock Olaf Scholz collapsed government
35 Comments
Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out tax rises despite ￡40bn of hikes in Budget
496 Comments
Eurozone meltdown as bloc's 'survival at risk' over imploding French government
160 Comments
Angela Rayner declares war on NIMBYs as councils ordered to build 1.5 million homes
201 Comments
Liz Kendall's winter fuel hypocrisy after claiming up to ￡350 a month in energy bills
1321 Comments
Labour savaged keeping VAT on audiobooks branded 'persecution of blind people'
24 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasted over Brexit betrayal as she plots major 'reset' with EU
1368 Comments
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch need to do one thing more if they want to win
1 Comments
Angela Rayner skewered over workers' rights plans in awkward BBC grilling
179 Comments
Labour's bad politics is paving the way for a Tory comeback
161 Comments
ITV GMB's Susanna Reid shuts down Labour MP with brutal five-word reply in winter fuel row
4 Comments
Rachel Reeves fails to repeat pledge over 'no new taxes or borrowing'
3 Comments
Keir Starmer's slapstick Cabinet show Labour still hasn't learned its lesson
326 Comments
Labour is killing the economy and it hasn't even got started yet!
1320 Comments
Cruel Rachel Reeves takes winter fuel payment from her OWN elderly mother
530 Comments
Rachel Reeves is spinning false claims about financial blackhole
171 Comments
The ruling warned that “the likely loss of M&S in the event of a refusal of permission would cause significant harm to the vitality and viability of the west of Oxford Street.”
But, the decision has sparked anger from campaigners at Save Britain’s Heritage.
Henrietta Billings, the group's director, said: “Our old, wasteful knock-it-down-and-start-again model is broken. There is a real appetite in the construction sector for change. They’re crying out for clarity from the Government.”