Infill housing sites are now among the most sought after properties in fashionable north and south Dublin suburbs because of the ongoing shortage of conventional family homes.

Unsurprisingly, agents Knight Frank plan to test values in the Dalkey area this week when they seek a buyer for a well located 2.2-acre plot at Dalkey Manor on Barnhill Road.

It is within a few minutes’ walk of the village.

James Meagher of the agency is guiding €5 million for the land which forms part of grounds of Dalkey Manor, a large house owned by an Irish-American family.

He says that the residential zoning available under the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan will allow for a high, medium or low-density development to be considered.

The actual density to be applied will ultimately be decided by the successful purchaser and the planning officials. However, the likelihood is that a development of between 20 and 30 houses will be sought given the pent-up demand for homes in the Dalkey area.

In another sale of a site of just over one acre at Cunningham Road in Dalkey Mark Reynolds of Savills recently achieved a price in excess of €3 million. The plot of land is likely to accommodate up to 10 houses.

Just before that, Savills and CBRE also secured €8 million for just under eight acres at Barrington Tower on Brennanstown Road in Foxrock. The site did not have planning permission.

On the north of the city, CBRE recently achieved a price of €2.2 million for a site of 1.16 acres at Dollymount Avenue in Clontarf with planning permission for 14 houses.