TWO Dublin businessmen have paid in excess of £2.8 million for the former British Embassy buildings and an adjoining site at Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

The site is to be used for an expensive apartment scheme. Most of Dublin's leading house builders were in competition for the two Victorian houses, which stand on 1.5 acres close to Shrewsbury Road.

Hamilton Osborne King originally quoted a guideline price of £1.5 million plus for the property but later said it would make more because of the high level of interest due to the scarcity of development sites in Dublin 4.

The planners may insist that the Victorian buildings should be retained in order to preserve the existing streets cape of mainly period houses.

The one acre site at the rear, which overlooks the RDS Simmonscourt Extension, can accommodate at least 25 large apartments.

McNally Handy acted for the new owners.

In north Dublin, an English businessman paid close to £900,000 after auction for a Georgian house on 12 acres, Wellfield, on Malahide Road. McNally Handy sold the property on behalf of businessman Ulick McEvaddy and his family, who are moving to a larger property in the area.

In south Dublin, Castleview, a detached house on Ardbrugh Road, Dalkey, was withdrawn at £232,000 and is under negotiation through Sherry FitzGerald.

A four bedroom semi at 24 Ashton Park, Monkstown, was with drawn at £147,000 by Sherry FitzGerald and sold later.

Gunne withdrew Rinn Na Mara a four bedroom house at Seapoint Avenue, Monkstown, at £180,000. It is now under negotiation.

In Stillorgan, a four bedroom house at 1 Fosterbrook was withdrawn by Sherry FitzGerald, which is quoting £245,000.

A detached house at 4 Richmond, Blackrock, was withdrawn at £148,500 by Gunne and sold later.

In Mount Merrion, 106 Upper Trees Road was withdrawn at £127,500 by Douglas Newman Good and sold later.

In Rathgar, Dublin 6, Harper O'Grady sold a Victorian four bedroom house at 13 Brighton Square prior to auction for close to £200,000.

Number 13C Leinster Road Dublin 6, was withdrawn at £122,000 by Harper O'Grady and sold later.

Elsewhere in Rathmines, Sherry FitzGerald sold 49 Belgrave Square for £251,000.

Douglas Newman Good sold 70 Highfleld Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14, for £116,500.

Gunne sold a one bedroom cottage at 26 Long Lane, Dublin 8, for £53,000.

In Dublin 15, The Stables, Allendale, was withdrawn by Mannion Auctioneers, which is quoting £75,000.

In Co Wicklow, a non-residential 105 acre farm, Dunbur Farm, was sold by Jackson Stops McCabe for £425,000.

A 90 acre farm at Gaganstown, Braanockstown, Co Kildare, was sold at auction in two lots for a total of £332,000.