A 45-acre development site, Barryparks, opposite the Pavilions Shopping Centre which is under construction in Swords, Co Dublin, is expected to net in excess of £27 million for a family who have farmed it for five generations.
The land, which fronts on to the Dublin-Belfast dual carriageway, is owned by the Ryan family, who have been involved for many years in breaking and producing young horses. They also operate stables at Oldtown and Garristown.
About 43 acres at Barryparks are zoned for light industrial developments while the remaining two acres have been designated for housing.
According to Paul McNeive of selling agents Hamilton Osborne King, it is one of the most significant commercial sites to come on the market in north Co Dublin for some years. He expects that it will be used for a commercial centre such as offices, business space, light industrial units and high-tech buildings. The two-acres set aside for housing will probably be used for a high-density scheme given the new strategy for residential developments.
The land has about 350 m of frontage on to the N1 and will accommodate a planned link road between the N1 and the M1 Belfast motorway extension which is already under construction. With easy access to Dublin Airport, the M50 and the proposed port tunnel, the Swords land is expected to have a broad appeal. It may also be of interest to Flynn and O'Flaherty, developers of the £70 million Pavilions centre, which is due to open next spring. The Telecom Eireann Superannuation Fund is pre-funding the centre which has already attracted a strong tenant line-up.
Swords is acknowledged as one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country with thousands of houses planned over the next few years. The planned metro for the greater Dublin area will pass through the Swords site, providing a further incentive for locating business premises there.
Hamilton Osborne King is quoting a guideline price in excess of £600,000 per acre for the land, which is to be sold by tender on November 17th. Tender forms are available from Philip O'Connor of solicitors Whitney, Moore and Keller.
