Cork Superdry sparks fury over signage
International clothes retailer Superdry has been the source of complaint after it painted over some of the facade of the old Moderne store on St Patrick’s Street and covered the famous building’s distinctive sign.
However, the most recent planning documents made available by Cork City Council showed that the local authority sought more information from the clothing giant before granting the retailer’s request for permission to change the shop front.
Planning files have shown that Superdry had requested permission for “the removal of the previous tenant’s (Moderne) signs from the shop front of 9-11 French Church St and 89-90 St Patrick St Cork and to install new internally illuminated horizontal individual letters reading ‘Superdry Store’.”
“The existing fascia will be retained but it will be over boarded and painted dark grey and a new projected banner sign will be proposed to match the previous tenant’s existing projecting sign on the building adjacent to 9 French Church Street,” the application wrote.
The proposal was met with resistance by City Hall, however, which requested further information on the request.
“Please be advised that having regard to the architectural merit of the building and its bronze shop front which is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and located within the Paul Street Conservation Area the proposal to overboard the existing fascia is unacceptable to the Planning Authority.
“As a result you should arrange to submit revised drawings which allow for the exposure of all of the fascia and the floral plaques apart from the central panel which hosts ‘the Moderne’ sign.
“An alternative method of covering over the Moderne lettering and a revised treatment of the signage proposed for this area over the main entrance doors (including dimensions, type and lighting) should be proposed which is sympathetic to the style of the building.”
However, local man Tony McGrath has submitted a complaint to the planning enforcement section of the council, and said he believes that the work that has been carried out on the old Moderne store should be investigated.
He has called on the council to look into whether or not the works violate planning law.
He said that he believes that the works should not be allowed even if planning permission has subsequently been granted.
“Regardless I think it is the wrong call,” Mr McGrath said.
“If you look at other stores like Debenhams, who have kept the Roches’ Stores sign above it on Patrick St, there is a respect there for something that has been there for so long.
“On a visual level the Moderne was distinct, unusual and unique to the streetscape and I think it was worth keeping,” he said.
Neither SuperDry nor Cork City Council had replied to queries at time of going to press.
