Marks and Spencer to be demolished

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has granted permission for the demolition of the flagship Marks and Spencer shop at 458 Oxford Street. The building, a classic example of British Art Deco, has stood on the site for almost a century, says Time Out London magazine.

However, residents of the capital are not happy about the demolition. Built between 1929 and 1930, the M and S Orchard House is a handsome six-storey building with an elegant stone-faced facade designed by the architects Trehearne and Norman. Its replacement will lack the same charm but there are plans for offices and a gym in a ten-storey modern building.

Also embarrassing for residents is the fact that the demolition and subsequent construction of the new building will not be completed until 2027, the construction work promises to be long, spoil the view and cause inconvenience: 'This is another lost part of Oxford Street as we knew it'.

Aside from the architectural destruction, there is another factor that saddens citizens. Environmental expert Simon Sturgis said the demolition and development plans contradict the mayor's promises on the environment and climate change. Sturgis, who helped design the London masterplan, believes that "the existing shop would be worth renovating and refurbishing".