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The days of demolish and rebuild are 鈥渓ong gone鈥� regardless of the outcome of controversial plans to redevelop Marks & Spencer鈥檚 flagship store, an industry expert has said.

Bam chief operating officer John Wilkinson said redevelopment projects which fully replace a building are a thing of the past 鈥渨hether or not you support Michael Gove鈥�.

Gove, the former communities secretary, blocked plans by the retailer to demolish and rebuild its Oxford Street store on carbon and heritage grounds. The decision was overturned by the High Court in March.

Speaking at the 好色先生TV the Future Conference in Westminster this afternoon, Wilkinson said the industry was now on a path to sustainability but this would require changes in 鈥渃ustomer expectations鈥�.

>> See also: What does the High Court鈥檚 ruling mean for M&S鈥檚 Oxford Street plans? Lawyers give their views

鈥淚 think the days of 鈥榣et鈥檚 just demolish and rebuild鈥� are long gone whether you support Michael Gove or not, and we will not get into politics around this position that he took with Marks and Spencer. 

鈥淔undamentally retaining the substructure and the superstructure is the right thing to do, because all the carbon is in the concrete and it鈥檚 all in the steel frame, so we鈥檙e going to have to change customer perceptions as well.鈥�

Wilkinson was speaking on a panel at the conference called Investing for growth: What is the future of net zero in the built environment? The panel also included RLB chief executive Andy Reynolds, UK Green 好色先生TV Council director of industry transformation Yetunde Abdul, Kier chief people officer Louisa Finlay and British Land development director Hannah Farahar.