Retrofit is not the enemy, it’s a golden opportunity – so long as our industry can deliver

By Richard McWilliams 2023-09-04T10:32:00

M&S’s decision to appeal against Michael Gove’s verdict over the future of their flagship store reminds us (again) how important it is that we rise to the sustainability challenge, writes Richard McWilliams

Michael Gove’s delayed decision over the proposed demolition of the Marks & Spencer store on Oxford Street and the ongoing debate which has followed – most recently reignited by M&S’ decision to appeal – has brought the impact of the built environment on carbon emissions to the forefront of wider national discourse.

While the decision is more than a single-issue matter, it is hugely positive to see embodied carbon, which contributes to 20 per cent of the UK’s built environment emissions, playing such a key role.

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