Oxford Street “falling prey to tacky candy stores” M&S boss warns

// Oxford Avenue dangers turning out to be a “dinosaur district destined for extinction” M&S boss warns

// Stuart Machin reported Oxford Road is on “its knees” and slipping prey to a “tacky candy stores”

Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Machin has warned that London’s Oxford Road challenges turning into a “dinosaur district destined for extinction”.

In a increasing row with Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove about the redevelopment of the retailer’s flagship retail store, Machin mentioned the well known browsing street is on “its knees” and falling prey to a “growing proliferation of tacky sweet stores”.

Machin known as on Gove to allow M&S to demolish its Marble Arch shop and swap it with a 10-storey retail and workplace unit, The Telegraph described.

Browse Much more: Above £100,000 worth of counterfeit items seized from American candy retailers

M&S experienced secured approval from Westminster City Council and the Greater London Authority for the proposal, but Gove took handle of the planning software pursuing fears about its environmental effect.

Machin criticised Gove’s decision, declaring there were “clear sustainability added benefits to our plans”.

The latest intervention comes soon after Gove issued an order forcing developers to place the challenge on keep.

It will now be referred to a general public inquiry overseen by the impartial setting up inspector, which will present its suggestion to the authorities.

The process is expected to get at least six months.

Machin stated: “When I wander down Oxford Avenue nowadays, I see a stark truth staring back at me. One in 5 shops sit vacant, there is a increasing proliferation of tacky sweet merchants and close to £600,000 of counterfeit products have been seized from hawkers this calendar year.

“The consequences of Covid have brought a avenue that was the moment the jewel of United kingdom browsing to its knees.”

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