Mango secures green light for Grafton Street flagship store
Gordon Deegan
Fashion retail giant Mango has secured the green light for a new flagship store on Dublin’s Grafton Street.
In a retail boost for the area, Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to MNG Mango Ireland Ltd to carry out works to open its new store at 112-113 Grafton Street.
Planning permission was previously granted for the construction of a three-storey over basement retail outlet in 2015 and 2019.
The construction work was carried out, but the store was never fitted out and remains unoccupied and Mango is now seeking to occupy the space.
In granting planning permission, the Council planner’s report concluded that by virtue of its proposed function, size, scale and location, the proposal would not detract from the civic design character and dignity of the area.
In its grant of permission, the council has ordered that the planned two suspended signs on the shopfront shall be omitted from the development and that the height of the letters on the fascia signage shall be reduced to 300mm.
Stating that the suspended signage should be omitted, the planner’s report stated that the combination of the fascia signage and the two suspended signage “would create visual clutter and set an undesirable precedence for signage within the surrounding area”.
The store is located just off Grafton Street’s main thoroughfare and other retailers close by include Lush, Icicle and a cafe operated by Butler’s Chocolate.
The application by MNG Mango Ireland follows quickly after the retailer opened a store at Dundrum Town Centre in May.
Planning consultants, Thornton O’Connor told the Council that the application “will facilitate the provision of a high-end fashion brand on Dublin’s premier street”.
Director with the planning consultancy, Sadhbh O’Connor, has told the council that the new store can contribute significantly to the city by providing a shop that is in demand in the area”and will only positively impact the character of Grafton Street”.
Ms O’Connor has further stated that the proposed change of use, shopfront and signage will build on the existing attributes of Grafton Street to provide an attractive, vibrant retail environment with a wide retail offering for customers.
Ms O’Connor states that the “occupation of this unit will add economic benefit to Dublin city as a whole and provision of employment opportunities in the area".
The existing planning permission has cafe-restaurant use at second level and Mango is proposing that the use on that level also be changed to retail.
As part of a 41 page planning report lodged with the application, Ms O’Connor states “higher order” retail outlets are supported by the Special Scheme of Planning Control for Grafton Street and its Environs
Ms O’Connor contends that the proposed new use with the presence of a higher order retail fashion outlet would introduce improved animation into the area and therefore ensure the vitality and vibrancy of Grafton Street.
