Editing Marks & Spencer (section)

====Store culls====
Some 30 stores were identified for closure in 2015–2016.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/29/marks-spencer-local-anger-confirming-store-closures-nine-shops|title=Marks & Spencer triggers local anger after confirming store closures|first=Graham|last=Ruddick|date=29 July 2015|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="newsshopper.co.uk">{{cite news|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11252488.UPDATE__Woolwich_M_S_to_close__with_Lewisham_store_losing_a_floor/|title=UPDATE: Woolwich M&S to close, with Lewisham store losing a floor|date=3 June 2014|work=newsshopper.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/08/m-and-s-marks-spencer-close-80-stores-major-overhaul|title=M&S to close 30 UK stores and cut back on clothing|first=Zoe|last=Wood|date=8 November 2016|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Several smaller stores were identified for closure in November 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davey |first=James |url=https://uk.yahoo.com/news/marks-spencer-speed-change-profits-fall-again-072111338--finance.html |title=M&S to speed up store closures as profits fall |date=8 November 2017 |publisher=Uk.yahoo.com |access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="yahoo1">{{cite web|url=https://uk.yahoo.com/news/m-signals-more-store-closures-071700147.html |title=M&S signals more store closures ahead in transformation plan |publisher=Uk.yahoo.com |date=15 September 2017 |access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref> On 31&nbsp;January 2018, another fourteen stores were identified for closure in April 2018,<ref name="BBC31012018">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42886154|title=Marks and Spencer plans to close up to 14 stores|work=BBC News|date=31 January 2018|access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref> and eight other stores were earmarked for closure later, pending consultation.<ref name="BBC31012018" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/ms-which-shops-are-closing-14225884|title=Marks and Spencer to shut store in Stockport and Denton as closures put hundreds of jobs at risk|work=Manchester Evening News|date=31 January 2018|access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref> On 23 May 2018, M&S managers confirmed that 14 more shops were to be closed and another 86 were under investigation, and thus put on notice, because of falling corporate sales and customer footfall. This would take the total to over 100 closing by 2022,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44197128|title=M&S to close 100 stores by 2022|work=BBC News|date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="yahoo.com2">{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/m-store-closures-full-list-072800891.html|title=Marks and Spencer store closures – full list: Which shops is the retailer shutting around the UK?|website=www.yahoo.com|date=23 May 2018 }}</ref><ref name="yahoo.com1">{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/m-confirms-14-more-shops-092928845.html|title=M&S confirms 14 more shops to be axed taking total to over 100|website=www.yahoo.com|date=22 May 2018 }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/05/23/ms-profits-plunge-store-closure-costs/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/05/23/ms-profits-plunge-store-closure-costs/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=M&S profits plunge 62pc amid sweeping store closure plans|first=Ben|last=Woods|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=23 May 2018|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-05-23/m-amp-s-takes-its-medicine|title=Analysis – M&S Takes Its Medicine|first=Andrea Felsted |last=Bloomberg|newspaper=Bloomberg |date=23 May 2018|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> On 15&nbsp;January 2019, the company named the next 17 stores to be closed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46876749|title=M&S names next 17 stores it wants to close|date=15 January 2019|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> In May 2021, the company announced plans to close another 30 shops over the next 10&nbsp;years as part of its turnaround plan,<ref name="BBC News"/> and in September 2021 it was confirmed that half of the French stores had been closed due to supply chain issues arising from [[Brexit]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20210917-brexit-plus-de-la-moiti%C3%A9-des-magasins-marks-spencer-ferment-leurs-portes-en-france|title=Brexit : plus de la moitié des magasins Marks & Spencer ferment leurs portes en France|date=17 September 2021|website=France 24}}</ref> In its results for the 52 weeks ending on 30 March 2024, the company stated that it was aiming at having 180 full-line and 420 food stores in the UK, commenting that legacy stores were more expensive to operate.<ref name=results2024>{{cite web | title=Marks and Spencer Group Plc Full Year Results for 52 Weeks Ended 30 March 2024| date=22 May 2024| url=https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/marks-and-spencer-group-plc-full-year-results-52-weeks-ended-30-march-2024|quote=... performance is constrained by legacy stores that are more expensive to operate ... Rotation towards a target estate of 180 full line and 420 Food stores...}}</ref>

In March 2021, M&S announced it intended to redevelop its largest store, the Marble Arch branch on [[Oxford Street]] in London, replacing it with a 10-storey building with two-and-a-half floors of shop space below several floors of offices.<ref name="Butler-07Mar2022">{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=M&S to redevelop big Oxford Street store as shoppers move online |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/09/m-and-s-oxford-street-store-marks-spencer-covid-crisis |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Guardian |date=7 March 2021}}</ref> Despite protests from groups including [[Save Britain's Heritage]], [[The Twentieth Century Society]] and Create Streets, the plans were approved by [[Westminster City Council]] in November 2021,<ref name="Ing-24Nov2022">{{cite news |last1=Ing |first1=Will |title=M&S's Oxford Street store to be demolished under Pilbrow & Partners plans |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/mss-oxford-street-store-to-be-demolished-under-pilbrow-partners-plans |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Architects' Journal |date=24 November 2021}}</ref> and [[Mayor of London]] [[Sadiq Khan]] chose not to intervene.<ref name="Goldfingle-12Apr2022">{{cite news |last1=Goldfingle |first1=Gemma |title=M&S Marble Arch store to be demolished as Sadiq Khan opts not to intervene |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2022/04/ms-marble-arch-store-to-be-demolished-as-sadiq-khan-opts-not-to-intervene/ |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Retail Gazette |date=12 April 2022}}</ref> However, in April 2022, Communities Secretary [[Michael Gove]] blocked the plans to allow time for the [[Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities]] to review the proposed redevelopment.<ref name="Hurst-20Apr2022">{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Will |title=M&S Oxford St demolition scheme halted by Gove |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/ms-oxford-st-demolition-scheme-halted-by-gove |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Architects' Journal |date=20 April 2022}}</ref> In June 2022, Gove ordered a public enquiry into the plans; M&S said it was "bewildered" by his "baseless" decision.<ref name="Rogers-22Jun2022">{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Dave |title=M&S turns guns on Gove and says decision over Oxford Street rebuild is 'bewildering' |url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/mands-turns-guns-on-gove-and-says-decision-over-oxford-street-rebuild-is-bewildering/5118055.article |access-date=22 June 2022 |work=Building |date=22 June 2022}}</ref> A two-week planning enquiry, starting in October 2022, looked at whether the project complied with planning rules concerning heritage and the historic environment and also address environmental concerns, notably the release of almost 40,000 tonnes of [[embodied carbon]] into the atmosphere caused by the construction of the replacement structure.<ref name="Hurst-21Oct2022">{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Will |title=Demolition in the dock: Why the M&S Oxford St public inquiry really matters |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/this-is-not-just-any-public-inquiry |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=Architects' Journal |date=21 October 2022}}</ref> 

In July 2023, Gove rejected the plans to demolish and redevelop the Oxford Street store, stating it conflicted with policies on heritage and design, and involved significant embodied carbon impact and waste.<ref name="AJ-20Jul2023">{{cite news |last1=Waite |first1=Richard |last2=Highfield |first2=Anna |last3=Hurst |first3=Will |title=BREAKING: Gove rejects M&S Oxford Street demolition |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/breaking-gove-rejects-ms-oxford-street-demolition |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=Architects' Journal |date=20 July 2023}}</ref> As well as overruling Westminster City Council and the Mayor of London, Gove also overruled his planning inspector, David Nicholson, who had recommended the project should go ahead due to its importance to the viability of the Oxford Street area.<ref name="Butler-20Jul2023">{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=Marks & Spencer refused permission to demolish and rebuild Oxford Street store |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/20/marks-spencer-refused-permission-to-demolish-and-rebuild-oxford-street-store |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=Guardian |date=20 July 2023}}</ref> M&S CEO Stuart Machin called the decision "utterly pathetic" and a "shortsighted act of self-sabotage".<ref name="AJ-20Jul2023"/> M&S subsequently launched a legal challenge against Gove's decision.<ref name="Prior-31Aug2023">{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=M&S launches legal challenge to Gove store rebuild rebuff |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2023/08/31/ms-launches-legal-challenge-to-gove-store-rebuild-rebuff/ |access-date=1 September 2023 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=31 August 2023}}</ref> In November 2023, the High Court allowed M&S to proceed with a [[judicial review]],<ref name="AJ-21Nov2023">{{cite news |last1=Waite |first1=Richard |last2=Highfield |first2=Anna |last3=Hurst |first3=Will |title=M&S clears first hurdle in legal challenge to Gove's Oxford St refusal |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/ms-clears-first-hurdle-in-legal-challenge-to-goves-oxford-st-refusal |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=Architects' Journal |date=21 November 2023}}</ref> and after a two-day hearing on 13–14 February 2024, Gove's decision to block demolition was quashed by a High Court judge on 1 March 2024.<ref name="Hurst-01Mar2024">{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Will |title=M&S wins High Court battle over Gove's Oxford Street decision |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/ms-wins-high-court-battle-over-goves-oxford-street-decision |access-date=1 March 2024 |work=Architects' Journal |date=1 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=1 March 2024 |title=M&S wins High Court appeal to tear down Marble Arch store |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2y5mm70l6o |access-date=2 March 2024 |website=BBC News }}</ref> In December 2024, Gove's successor [[Angela Rayner]] approved the store's demolition, citing the advantages of a concentrated development in a highly accessible location, the employment and regeneration benefits, and "potential harm to the vitality and viability" of London's West End if permission had been refused.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pitcher |first1=Greg |title=Rayner approves M&S Oxford Street plans |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/ms-oxford-street-demolition-deciscion |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=Architects' Journal |date=5 December 2024}}</ref>