To retrofit or knock-down and start anew: What next for the building demolition debate?

clock • 5 min read

The row over the future of Marks & Spencer's Oxford Street store could mark a watershed in how we think about delivering a modern, net zero building stock in the UK, Jacob Loftus, CEO at real estate developer General Projects

Last month saw a landmark decision by Michael Gove to refuse planning permission for Marks & Spencer's proposed new flagship store on Oxford Street. It's not often that planning issues make national headlines,...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Buildings

UKGBC launches nature-positive built environment framework
Buildings

UKGBC launches nature-positive built environment framework

New industry-backed guidance seeks to provide clarity on how the built environment can better help halt and reverse nature loss

Amber Rolt
clock 19 February 2026 • 4 min read
Cold and expensive vs hot, cheap and eco-friendly: The UK's and Sweden's contrasting home heating histories
Buildings

Cold and expensive vs hot, cheap and eco-friendly: The UK's and Sweden's contrasting home heating histories

Two professors of energy studies – one British, the other Swedish – explore the very different histories of home heating in their countries.

Aimee Ambrose, Sheffield Hallam University, and Jenny Palm, Lund University
clock 18 February 2026 • 18 min read
Policy dither and delay is slowing UK commercial property decarbonisation
Buildings

Policy dither and delay is slowing UK commercial property decarbonisation

There is strong support for decarbonisation across the UK commercial property sector, but government dither and delay suggests it is not listening to the industry, writes Jenna Strover from Potter Space

Jenna Strover, Potter Space
clock 11 February 2026 • 4 min read