The Government is now expected to build a large office block for public servants on the site of the veterinary college in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, rather than sell the land to a developer. The site of 2.1 acres at Shelbourne Road was expected to make in excess of £12 million if it had gone on the open market.
Commissioner Sean Benton of the Office of Public Works said yesterday he was anxious to explore the development potential of the site before making a definitive decision on its future. However, other sources suggested that with the OPW now in the market for office sites, there would be no question of selling off what is a prime office location. With none of the veterinary school buildings listed for preservation, the site could possibly accommodate up to 120,000 sq. ft of offices, as well as an underground car-park. The OPW is also expected to look at the possibility of linking up a new block with an adjoining office building.
Last year, the OPW outbid several private developers to acquire a site near the Four Courts for the Land Registry. It has also availed of the healthy state of the public finances to buy out the freehold interests of office blocks occupied by the public service.
The OPW's decision to retain the veterinary school will mean that several apartments developers which had targeted the site will now have to look elsewhere. Meanwhile, Capel Developments is to seek planning permission for a mixed scheme of apartments and high-tech offices on a nine-acre site it has bought for £14.5 million beside Nutgrove Shopping Centre at Whitehall Road East, Dublin 14.
Although part of the site is covered by industrial buildings, Capel obviously sees it as an opportunity to provide a good deal of housing units in what is a mature residential area. The site is also ideal for high-tech offices. The land and buildings were sold by Avonmore Waterford Estates.
Capel has become one of the largest apartment developers in the city and is currently involved in four schemes: Riverview, overlooking the Liffey at Conyngham Road; the former Linden nursing home in Blackrock; and Dunstaffnage in Stillorgan. The company, which is controlled by Eddie Keegan, John O'Connor and Liam Kelly, is also completing 32 exclusive apartments on the site of the former British Embassy at Merrion Road, Ballsbridge.
In the meantime, many of Dublin's top housing developers are likely to be in competition for the buildings and grounds of the National College of Ireland at Sandford Road in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, which are to be sold on July 14th. Hamilton Osborne King is quoting a guideline price of between £10 million and £12 million for the college which stands on 3.85 acres along a private road shared with Gonzaga College and Sandford Church of Ireland National School.
