Penneys scales back expansion plans for Cork city store

Penneys is to scale back its plans for an expanded Patrick Street store, but is still planning to redevelop the current site.

A Penneys spokesperson told The Echo: “We are as committed as ever to transforming our Penneys Patrick Street store into the retail flagship our customers and colleagues have been patiently waiting for.

“We will be changing the scale of the redevelopment, but are more than confident our future store will be a very positive addition and attraction for Cork city centre shoppers.

“We’re so proud to have been part of this historic shopping destination for more than 45 years and look forward to continuing this for many years to come.”

In 2021, Penneys submitted plans to expand and redevelop the store, increasing the retail space by 17,000sq ft to 54,000sq ft, with the project encompassing a site that stretches from Robert St to Cook St, and from Patrick Street to Oliver Plunkett St.

The plans were appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála), which eventually granted permission in November 2023, saying the development “would provide for an enhanced comparison shopping unit, would assist in maintaining and strengthening the role of the city centre as the primary retail centre in the Cork Metropolitan Area”.

The company is believed to be preparing to submit new planning permission to Cork City Council regarding the updated plans.

The store extension was announced as part of a commitment by the company to invest €250m into the Irish market over 10 years and to create 700 jobs within the following three years, with the company spokesperson saying: “We are on track to deliver on that, which includes our plans for Patrick Street store.

“In September last year we unveiled a €4m renovation of our Penneys store at Wilton Shopping Centre,” they said, adding that the new store has a larger home department and will feature self-checkout tills.