Ruling had been due next week but now not expected before 20 July
Michael Gove has delayed his decision on Marks & Spencer鈥檚 controversial plans to rebuild its flagship Oxford Street store by three months.
The communities secretary had previously said he would make a final ruling on the called-in plans 鈥渙n or before 3 May鈥�.
The Pilbrow & partners-designed scheme near Marble Arch in central London was approved in 2021 and later backed by Sadiq Khan, despite concerns from heritage and environmental groups about the carbon and townscape impacts of knocking down the 1930s building.
The plans were called in by Gove last summer and went to a public inquiry overseen by the Planning Inspectorate in a case which is widely expected to be a bellwether for how planning authorities will approach future demolish and rebuild projects.
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the decision would now not be issued before 20 July.
A letter from the department sent to Marks & Spencer, Westminster council and Save Britain鈥檚 Heritage, the inquiry鈥檚 rule 6 party which allowed it cross-examine evidence, said: 鈥淔urther time is required to consider this case, and it will not be possible to reach a decision on this application on or before the above date.鈥�
The department did not provide any further explanation for why the decision had been delayed.
Last year鈥檚 three-week inquiry into the scheme ended in a row as Save Britain鈥檚 Heritage accused Marks & Spencer鈥檚 legal team of making defamatory statements.
M&S had issued a press release following the conclusion of hearings which claimed Save Britain鈥檚 heritage had made a 鈥渟ignificant move鈥� by accepting the retailer鈥檚 arguments about sustainability.
Save鈥檚 director Henrietta Billings described the press release as 鈥渄eliberately misleading and inaccurate鈥�.
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The campaign group鈥檚 legal team also sent a letter to M&S chairman Archie Norman in response accusing the firm of making 鈥渉ighly irresponsible statements鈥� that were likely to cause serious harm to the campaign group鈥檚 reputation.
An M&S spokesperson said the firm remained fully confident in the accuracy of the press release, adding: 鈥淲e are proud of our plans to deliver a bold, sustainable and innovative Marble Arch site which is the only viable and deliverable option and the sole retail-led regeneration on the nation鈥檚 most famous, but challenged, high street.鈥�
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