Villa-style home with a plot for €995,000

While Greenwood has a certain retro charm, its real value is the plot of land that it sits on: 1.5 acres just off Dodder Park Road and within club-swinging distance of Castle Golf Club. Much of this, to the rear and side, is a motte and bailey castle, a fortification made of wood or stone set upon a raised mound of earth called a motte. The bailey is an enclosed courtyard protected by a surrounding ditch.

The property has an advised minimum value (AMV) of €995,000 through agents Lisney. Subject to archaeological excavation and planning permission there is potential to build a couple, if not a small terrace, of townhouses on this site. The current owners had an architect draft outline plans for such a terrace and he made use of the elevations to create villa-style homes with south- facing decks looking towards the Dublin Mountains. Some years back archaeologists from Trinity College Dublin investigated the castle remains but didn't report anything significant to the owner.

As it stands entry to the villa-style house is upstairs at hall level. The property measures 239sq m (2,570sq ft). The main living floor feels roomy and is partially open plan. The four-bedroom, flat-roof house was built in the 1970s to accommodate the owner’s husband, a wheelchair user, so there are sliding doors in all the rooms.

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The sitting room has a gas fire, extensive glazing, well-considered window seats and would have a terrific view of Three Rock Mountain if it wasn’t partially obscured by overgrown trees on Woodside Drive. Sliding doors lead to a south- and west-facing deck that wraps all the way round to the kitchen.

A vinyl concertina door leads through to the kitchen, a great room with dual aspect glazing. Most of the presses are set below the counter helping it to feel bright and airy.

Next to the sitting room is a study or second bedroom. The master bedroom at the gable end is the width of the house and has a sizeable en suite bathroom.

Downstairs there are three more bedrooms and an enormous games room that could double as a surgery for a dentist or doctor in residence, subject to planning.

Another option is to raze the current house and build an architectural wonder with sweeping views that makes the most of its sublime setting.

The auction takes place on October 9th at 2.30pm at the agent’s Stephen’s Green premises.