South Dublin is to get a major new business park. A planning application has been lodged for a development of 1.75 million sq ft of hightech space on a site with frontage to the Leopardstown Road, near the proposed Southern Cross extension to the M50 motorway, at Sandyford in Dublin 18. The project, to be known as Central Park, the largest of its kind in Ireland, would include a hotel and neighbourhood shopping facilities.
The 20-acre site earmarked for what the promoters call a "world class park" was sold recently for slightly over £25 million by a religious order. The promoters are confident that the development will be warmly welcomed by the Government and agencies such as the IDA. It is thought likely that a high percentage of jobs created in the park will be in the fast growing information technology and computer industries as well as in the tele-marketing and support type operations.
Joint agents Finnegan Menton and Lisney report that the development has already generated strong interest from prospective tenants.
The strategic location of the site in south Dublin guarantees its appeal to international companies. It is one of the few remaining commercial sites of this size in the area and as well as adjoining the IDA South County Business Park, it is also opposite Sandyford Industrial Estate and Stillorgan Office Park.
Central Park will open on to Leopardstown Road, which is due to be upgraded to a dual carriageway by 2001. The park will be close to the proposed Luas light rail service. It is anticipated that site work will begin next January with the first building due to be finished within 12 months. The entire project, depending on demand for space, is likely to take between three and five years to complete.
Some of the 14 buildings planned for the site will vary from four to eight storeys in height. The design by architects Henry J Lyons provides for facades with natural and reconstituted stone panels and high quality window wall glazing with architectural cladding. Underground car-parking is to be provided to allow for heavily landscaped open areas with sculptured water features. Much of the inspiration for the overall layout came as a result of experience gained from visits to various overseas parks.
Several of the blocks have been designed to accommodate substantial users in headquarters buildings which can be combined to offer interlinked blocks of up to 500,000 sq ft - easily the largest in Dublin.
All the buildings will be capable of being subdivided to allow tenants to occupy unit sizes starting at 35,000 sq ft. The promoters plan to broaden the appeal of Central Park by developing a 150-bedroom hotel, along with conference rooms, restaurants and neighbourhood shopping. A spokesman said that within the immediate catchment area there was a very high calibre of potential employees. Sandyford has a proven track record for attracting prestigious national and international companies wanting a base in south Dublin. The location of the park, near the M50, will also make it easily accessible to a huge hinterland, including the city centre which will be within a 30 minute drive in off-peak times.
The project's professional team includes landscape architects Ferguson McIlveen, which plans to use the natural contours of the site to create a dynamic environment with attractive water and landscaping features.
Central Park will be developed on a joint venture basis between a company headed by David Arnold and another controlled by Castle Market Holdings, whose £150 million portfolio in Ireland includes Stillorgan Shopping Centre.
