THE Fitzpatrick hotel group is close to assembling five large Georgian houses at Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, for its new city centre hotel.

Last week, the company bought the former Ansbacher bank premises at 50,51 and 52 Lower Leeson Street for £3 million. Since then, it has agreed terms for the purchase of two adjoining buildings for around £900,000.

The Gunne agency handled the sale of the Ansbacher buildings, which are in mint condition.

The sale included two buildings at the rear, 57 Adelaide Road and a mews building facing on to Lee son Place.

The complex has 50 car-parking spaces.

In subsequent negotiations, Fitzpatrick is understood to have agreed to buy 48 and 49 Lower Leeson Street. The buildings were occupied until recently by insurance brokers Frank Glennon.

The two houses have on-site car parking for 25 cars.

The five buildings will have a combined floor space of over 20,000 square feet and there are obvious development opportunities at the rear.

The Leeson Street buildings occupy a high-profile location on one of the busiest roads into the city.