As we await the verdict of the public inquiry, we’re considering how M&S can align their architectural choices to coincide with its heritage and brand values. 

M&S is a business that proudly showcases ‘EST. 1884’ in their logo, trading off heritage value and sustainability credentials. On their website, they acknowledge that ‘there is no Plan B when it comes to the environment’ and that ‘caring about our impact on the world today and in the future is good business.’

You could argue their proposal for demolishing their flagship 1929 Art Deco building on Oxford Street, and the subsequent 40,000 tonnes of CO2 that would be released into the atmosphere, doesn’t align with the brand’s heritage or sustainability values.

A practical idea would be to adapt the existing structure to meet the new needs required of the property. Architects are responsible for moving away from the disposable, ‘knock it down’ rhetoric, continuing their quest to acquire solutions for climate change, especially if net zero is to be achieved in accordance with the Government’s legal requirements.

In addition to being better for the environment, sustainable renovation and redevelopment is good for business. If M&S were to retrofit the existing building instead, they would minimise their environmental impact, preserving the area’s rich heritage and consequently echoing the brand’s identity.

Climate change is an urgent issue for which the property sector must continue to address and acquire solutions. As future generations grow up with a heightened awareness of sustainability concerns, the tolerance for ‘greenwashing’ will become less and less. Thriving prospective companies need only recognise this and align their beliefs to their actions, which will subsequently align with their consumers’ beliefs and actions.