The union Mandate yesterday sought an urgent meeting with management at Arnotts following a media report that up to 400 jobs would go at the retailer during its ambitious €1 billion Northern Quarter development off Henry Street in Dublin. Colm Keenareports.

A spokesman for the retailer said it was finalising its plans for the 1.65 million sq ft development, and would be communicating with staff as soon as this had occurred. He would not say if the report was correct.

The retailer is to run a scaled down operation in the Henry Street area, possibly in the Jervis Centre where Debenhams previously had an outlet, for the duration of the major development.

Arnotts is awaiting a ruling from Bord Pleanála on its plan for the 5.5 acre site that runs from behind the General Post Office to Liffey Street. If the plan is given the go-ahead the development is scheduled to begin in September of this year, with a view to being completed by late 2011.

Mandate assistant general secretary Linda Tanham wrote to the company yesterday seeking an early meeting. "It is extremely important that the company meet with us as soon as possible to discuss the future of Arnotts and the staff employed there."

The Arnotts spokesman said it was very keen to work constructively with unions.

The retailer has 950 staff and it has long been known that the temporary, scaled-down operation will need fewer employees. The retailer is expected to require up to 1,200 staff when it reopens in 2011 in the redeveloped quarter.

About 1,000 construction jobs could be created during the development, and overall employment in the completed development, including in Arnotts, is expected to be about 5,000.

In January, staff at Debenhams were told of the outlet's intention to close, and Arnotts took over the lease on the store.

Eight parties have appealed planning permission for the Arnotts-led development, including An Post, An Taisce and the Rail Procurement Agency.

The quarter is to include 47 shops, 14 cafés, restaurants and bars, 175 apartments and a 149-bedroom four-star hotel. A new plaza is to be located between Henry Street and Middle Abbey Street, and Prince's Street North is to be redeveloped as a prime shopping street.