There should be plenty of takers for one of the first residential sites to come on the market in Dalkey for years, writes Jack Fagan
A ready-to-go site for 24 homes beside Dalkey Hill is to be offered for sale by tender on May 15th.
Wesley Rothwell of CB Richard Ellis is guiding over €20 million for the site of 0.59 hectares (1.46 acres) off Cunningham Road in Dalkey which has full planning permission for 10 detached houses, five mews houses, six apartments and three penthouses. It is one of the first significant housing sites to come on the open market in Dalkey for many years and, even if the current slowdown in the new homes sector persists, the selling agent says there should still be no shortage of buyers who want to live in the area.
The overall design of the scheme and its use of contemporary-style buildings was heavily influenced by Scandinavian housing models. One planner described the design as "bold and innovative and of a high quality".
The design and appearance of the scheme, as well as the contemporary style of the buildings, were chosen to address the main characteristics of the site - an eight-degree downward slope of the land from south to north.
Rothwell said the proposed development capitalises on the spectacular views towards Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire, Scotmans Bay, Killiney Bay and across Dublin Bay to Howth.
The site forms part of the rear garden of Santa Maria, a large 19th century house bought at auction in June 2005 by developers Wesley Curran and Graham O'Donnell of Otranto Properties Ltd for just under €10 million. An Bord Pleanála endorsed the decision by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to grant permission for the present scheme.
The site is located about 500 metres from Dalkey Dart station on Railway Road. Access to the site will be through a small residential scheme just off Cunningham Road. The 10 detached houses will range in size from 113-190sq m (1,216-2,045sq ft) while the five mews houses will have floor areas of 113sq m (1,216sq ft). The six two-bedroom apartments will extend from 71-95sq m (764-1,023sq ft) while the three penthouses will range from 54-88sq m (581-947sq ft).
CB Richard Ellis says that the 6 per cent fall in the population of Dalkey since 1996 is largely due to the fact that few new residential schemes have been launched in the area. "Most of the current housing stock is being retained as trophy properties," says Rothwell. "The area has not fallen victim to large scale residential infill as has been seen in many other south Dublin suburbs."
