Businessman Denis O’Brien has spent about €1 million on the purchase of two campshire buildings fronting on to the river Liffey in the south Dublin docklands. The campshires are the stretches of land between the quay and road on both the north and south quays in Dublin.

Mr O’Brien is expected to spend almost as much again on the upgrading and refurbishment work before renting the buildings as restaurants or for other retail uses.

The detached buildings at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay date from the 1880s and were handed over to Nama after the Government decided to dissolve the disgraced Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

Selling agent CBRE said most of the considerable number of inquiries it received about the former BJ Marine warehouses came from the catering industry because of their unique quayside location in an area where a large number of professional workers are employed.

“There is obviously a growing demand for services in what has now become a vibrant business district,” says Niamh Sheehan, who handled the sales.

Accessible

The buildings are close to office blocks occupied by 02, Grant Thornton and State Street bank. They are also a short distance from the Samuel Beckett Bridge which makes them easily accessible to workers on the north side of the quays.

O’Brien, whose own headquarters building is located beside Google at Number 1 Grand Canal Quay, has engaged agent Jones Lang LaSalle to handle the lettings of the two double-height detached buildings which have floor areas of 615sq m (6,619sq ft) and 294sq m (3,614sq ft).

Separately, CBRE has let another campshire building at Longboat Quay, opposite Grand Canal Dock, to a Dublin chain of beauty salons.

Nama had also hoped to sell it for €300,000 but there were no takers.