Some time between now and the 20th of this month, Michael Gove is due to make one of the more momentous planning decisions of recent times. In his capacity as secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, he has to determine whether Marks & Spencer can or cannot demolish its flagship store in Oxford Street, London, and replace it with a new office and retail development, following a public inquiry into its proposal. What is at stake is the effect on climate of the demolition and replacement of old buildings.
Construction requires colossal amounts of energy and causes vast emissions, facts that have led to the belated realisation that it is better wherever possible to renovate rather than rebuild. The most sustainable building is the one that is already there, as the now-fashionable saying goes. In the case of M&S it would be perfectly viable to keep and renovate the current building – a revamped version could be up and running and earning the company income if it hadn’t chosen a different route. If Gove is the slightest bit serious about reducing the country’s climate emissions, he should refuse permission to the rebuild.
