DUNOON’S former M&Co store on the town’s high street is set for a transformational facelift after planning permission was granted for a new shopfront at the premises.
The retail unit at 121 Argyll Street, which is within the Dunoon conservation area, was formerly a part of the La Scala cinema in the town, a building steeped in history.
Brian Tytler, owner of popular local retail businesses Pricewise and Toytastic, moved into the old M&Co shop last year. The premises had been empty since April 2023 when M&Co went into administration the previous year.
This week planning permission was granted by Argyll and Bute Council for Brian to forge ahead with plans for a new shopfront, as no feedback had been received from the public over his planning application.
A council officer said in a handling report: “The property is located within the settlement zone of Dunoon and Dunoon conservation area wherein it is considered an appropriate site for refurbishment works to be undertaken sensitively in terms of Dunoon shopfronts. “The shopfront improvement can be achieved through careful attention to detail to the size and position of signs, the sympathetic use of colour, materials and the settlement pattern and landscape character of the area. The proposed works will be an uplift to the building and be of betterment with high quality materials.”
The report added: “Given the proposal is of a relatively minor nature, would have minimal impact upon the wider settlement area and conservation area. There would be no adverse effect upon the privacy or amenity to the neighbouring properties.
“The shopfront will be reverted to its traditional appearance of original tiles, with creative hand painted signage. Therefore, it is considered that the proposed high-quality design and materials would successfully uplift the aesthetic of the current shopfront thereby enhancing the character of the conservation area.”
