As part of a unique concept, the centre will include a Maison des Métiers d’Art, showcasing French savoir-faire in crafts and artisanship

McArthurGlen, Europe’s leading owner, developer and manager of designer outlets, has been given the green light to open the first luxury designer outlet to serve western Paris.

McArthurGlen Normandie is set to establish itself as a key tourist destination for the Paris region, and will be home to some of the most sought-after luxury, premium and lifestyle brands, both international and French.

Following the go-ahead by France’s national planning body for retail, the CNAC, McArthurGlen’s Development Director for France, Mike Natas, said: “The granting of planning permission for McArthurGlen Normandie is a clear recognition of a high-quality scheme, and also of the close private-public partnership that we have established at a regional and national level with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), the Chamber of Trades & Crafts of the Eure (CMA) and the National Institute of Crafts (INMA).”

McArthurGlen will own, develop and manage the scheme, located an hour’s drive from the Arc de Triomphe. The centre has direct access to the A13 motorway between Paris and the popular Normandy coastline. It is also near Giverny, where the famous house and garden of Impressionist painter Claude Monet is located, making it one of the most prestigious cultural and tourist sites in Normandy and France.

As part of its unique concept, McArthurGlen Normandie will not only include nearly 100 stores of the best-loved fashion brands, but also a Maison des Métiers d’Art, an arts & crafts maison, promoting the savoir-faire of French crafts and artisanship, and including an innovative concept store and workshop zone. This is the first such partnership for McArthurGlen, whose centres have long been known for their art, and are home to works by such acclaimed artists as Nic Fiddian Green and Marc Coweth, as well as the centres themselves being designed by award-winning architects.

Mike continues: “We create day-out destinations – not just shopping destinations. The opening of the Maison des Métiers d’Art adjoining our Designer Outlet is a clear example of how we do this, as well as looking to embed our centres in the local culture and community for the benefit of all.”

With Paris the most visited city tourist destination in the world, McArthurGlen’s tourism team will be working on a local, regional and international level, together with its more than 100 tourism and travel partners, to promote McArthurGlen Normandie as a day-out destination.

Mike continues: “As Europe’s leader in designer outlet retailing, we have strong demand from our brand partners, who include the most sought-after names in luxury and premium fashion, to open a centre to serve the Paris market, given the strength of tourism in the city."

The Normandie centre will create nearly 600 direct full time jobs, with further people employed indirectly, in particular in the tourism sector, as well as in the construction and services sectors. Mike continues: “Looking at the visitor flows to our 20 existing centres across Europe, and the consumer insights that we carry out on a regular basis. We believe that McArthurGlen Normandie will attract around 2.5 million shoppers a year, representing a formidable opportunity for the tourist and economic development of the region.”

McArthurGlen Normandie will be the Group’s fourth centre in France. McArthurGlen Provence, close to both Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, is due to open in 2017 as the first designer outlet in the South of France.  In addition, McArthurGlen opened Continental Europe’s first designer outlet, McArthurGlen Troyes, in 1995, and McArthurGlen Roubaix in 1998.

McArthurGlen Normandie is a result of a close cooperation between McArthurGlen and the Departmental Council of the Eure and the Communauté d’Agglomération des Portes de l’Eure (CAPE), Also adjoining the centre, the CCI and the CMA will create two other developments – respectively dedicated to vintage cars and green construction.

The architect on the project is Arte Charpentier, in collaboration with landscape architect Atelier Jacqueline Osty. The centre will have an ‘Excellent’ HQE (High Environmental Quality) certificate.