Redevelopment Site: A large turnkey site of 3.2 hectares (eight acres) has come on the market on the edge of Ballina town. It has full planning permission for a retail warehousing development of over 12,000sq m (129,167sq ft) and is expected to sell by tender for more than €6.75 million.
The proposed scheme is the first of its kind for Ballina and so keen interest in the property is expected, says agent Hamilton Osborne King.
The site's excellent location on the Crossmolina Road at the entrance to the town centre will also serve to push the price.
Belfast architects Ostick & Williams designed the 12,218sq m (131,514sq ft) development which includes a garden centre and 11 other units ranging in size from 743sq m (8,000sq ft) up to 3,716sq m (40,000sq ft).
This type of development requires excellent supporting road infrastructure to assist access and the site delivers this.
Sitting on the Crossmolina-Ballina Road which links to the N26 primary route, it has dual frontage looking onto the town's inner relief road that is due for completion this year. The location will also benefit from the proposed outer ring road and a new bridge over the River Moy.
Ballina is the largest town in Co Mayo with a growing population expected to reach 12,900 by 2009. It already has a vibrant retail core, including large retail units for Dunnes Stores and Tesco. Easons is due to open shortly and Pennys has chosen to locate one of its largest stores in the town. The recent arrival of a new third-level institution - Newman College - also adds to the busy town centre.
"Opportunities to develop quality retail facilities in key locations are becoming increasingly scarce in the market at present and we anticipate strong demand for the property," said HOK's senior development land surveyor, Jonathan Preston.
