Superdry had no permission to cover ‘Moderne’ signage

Cork City Council says it did not give an international clothing retailer planning permission for the works it carried out on the signage of a Cork storefront.

Superdry is to open a store in the former Moderne on St Patrick’s St tomorrow. However, work the retailer carried out on the fascia has prompted a complaint to Cork City Council.

Yesterday, the Irish Examiner revealed how City Hall’s planning department previously told Superdry that its proposal “to overboard the existing fascia is unacceptable to the Planning Authority” because of “the architectural merit of the building and its bronze shop front, which is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage”.

“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,” City Hall wrote on September 10.

Despite the warning last month, Superdry covered over the fascia of the building, including the floral plaques that City Hall had said were to be left exposed.

“Cork City Council have not granted permission for the works. An enforcement file has been opened and the matter is being investigated,” Kevin Lynch, acting director of service at the Council’s Strategic Planning and Economic Development Directorate, said yesterday.

“We are following up in relation to signage that does not have planning permission. We have a range of options in relation to the signage including a formal request to remove the sign, to court action. However the position is being investigated and no action has been instigated yet.”

Superdry has not responded to requests for comment from this newspaper.