People walking on Grafton Street in Dublin. Photo: Arthur Carron/Collins Dublin City Council has refused planning retention for a souvenir shop for Dublin’s Grafton Street as the outlet would set an undesirable precedent for similar type development and would devalue property in the vicinity. In refusing planning permission to Fashionflo Investments Ltd for the planning retention of the ‘Seasons of Ireland’ souvenir shop at 111 Grafton Street, the council has also concluded that the retention of the unit as a souvenir shop “will not achieve an appropriate mix and balance of uses on this part of Grafton Street, in particular, higher order comparison retail outlets, to provide for a high-quality shopping area”.

The council upheld the recommendation of its planner. The planning report concluded that given the current mix of lower-order retail uses and comparison retail uses along this part of Grafton Street “the retention of this unit as a souvenir shop would not promote an appropriate balance of higher-order retail uses on the street and prevent an over-concentration of non-fashion or fashion-related uses”. The report stated the applicants contended that the proposed souvenir shop will not result in an over concentration of this use.

However, the council report stated this section of Grafton Street has a number of ‘lower order’ units such as a bookmakers and a cosmetic shop where there are currently three vacant units at 109, 110 and 112-113 Grafton Street. Th.