Historic England is taking action as preservation advocates in the country prepare for what could be a seminal decision that might alter the face of building conservation in the UK for years to come.

More than 50% of the country's historic department stores have reportedly closed since 2015, leading proponents of their adaptive reuse (including The Guardian critic Oliver Wainwright) to successfully petition against the proposed demolition of a landmark Marks & Spencer outpost on Oxford Street in Central London. Architects, led by Julia Barfield, Sarah Wigglesworth, and Stirling Medalist Steve Tompkins have been lining up with the group to voice their support for retrofitting ahead of an October inquiry into the matter that was called recently by Communities Secretary Michael Gove. Many see this as a potential public rallying cry for retrofit projects throughout the country. 

A group called SAVE Britain’s Heritage will testify against the department store chain and is currently looking to raise £20,000 to be put towards “legal fees and expert witnesses” ahead of that two-week hearing. This could end in a special order that would regroup at least the country’s 18 or more “high street titans” into their own protected class as well as triggering a broader acknowledgment of the growing demand for reuse’s widespread adaptation. In a statement to The Guardian, the organization’s director, Henrietta Billings, outlined the importance of the project type unrelated to its proven sustainability benefit.

“These majestic and prestigious retail palaces that were built to impress and have stood the test of time through the quality of the architecture and the great fondness that people hold for them,” she said. “We hope this review will lead to more and urgent listings — meaning protection and national recognition — across the country.”