Ever since it was conceived in the 1980s, the Birches in the sought-after south Dublin suburb of Foxrock has been the address at one point or another of some of Ireland's best-known and most-successful business people. Quite apart from serving as an enclave in its earliest days to property tycoons such as Johnny Ronan, Sean Dunne and Paddy McKillen, the exclusive enclave has been home over the years to other business luminaries such as David Doyle and Maurice Pratt.
Given its long-established exclusivity, the sale by publicly listed house builder Glenveagh Properties of a 0.6 hectare (1.6 acre) residential development site there is expected to attract strong interest from a range of potential purchasers.
Guiding at a price of €4.75 million, the subject property is being offered to the market by Knight Frank with full planning permission (D15A/0839), extended until July 5th, 2025, for the construction of 28 apartments.
The entire site is zoned “Objective A Residential” under the terms of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Development Plan 2016 – 2022, and Draft 2022 – 2028 Plan, which seeks to “protect and or improve residential amenity”. Prospective purchasers will note that the site falls outside both the Foxrock Architectural Conservation Area and the Section 49 Development Contribution Scheme – Extension of LUAS Line B1 – Sandyford to Cherrywood.
While the opportunity to deliver apartment units suited to the upper end of both the owner-occupier and private rented sector markets in the near term will likely be of interest to a range of parties, the site offers scope for an alternative and potentially more lucrative scheme.
Dermot Bannon Architects have prepared a detailed feasibility study for a revised development of 24 units (10 houses, seven duplex units and seven apartments) incorporating surface car parking.
Innovative design
Commenting on the proposal, the architect says: “Maintaining separation distances and avoiding overlooking were key design drivers in developing the massing for the unit typologies. The proposed revised scheme introduces concepts of high-density housing, successfully demonstrated at Abode at Great Kneighton and Accordia in Cambridge, UK. These innovative design methods in conjunction with the quantitative standards as set out in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan 2016 – 2022, form the structure and organisation of their proposal.”
The subject site currently comprises a detached bungalow in need of refurbishment on extensive grounds which adjoin Foxrock Golf Club.
In terms of its location, The Birches is situated just off Torquay Road and within close proximity to Foxrock village itself. There are a wide range of amenities in the surrounding area, including Leopardstown Racecourse and Golf Centre, Foxrock Golf Club, Dundrum Town Centre, Stillorgan Shopping Centre, Cornelscourt Shopping Centre, Cabinteely Park and Carrickmines Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club.
The site is also in close proximity to a number of major employment hubs, including South County Business Park, Central Park, Sandyford Business Park, Cherrywood, as well as Dublin city centre.
The Birches also benefits from excellent public transport links with frequent Dublin Bus routes servicing Foxrock village, while the N11 QBC is also within easy walking distance. The Central Park and Sandyford stops on the Luas green line are within 2km, as is junction 15 of the M50 motorway which provides ready access to Dublin Airport and the wider motorway network.
The area is served by numerous educational facilities including Hollypark and St Brigid’s boys and girls national schools as well as Blackrock College, Mount Anville, Loreto College Foxrock, Francais d’Irlande and the newly-opened Nord Anglia International School, while University College Dublin is also within 6.5km.
Further information can be obtained from the dataroom for the sale which can be accessed at siteatthebirches.com or by contacting Finín O'Driscoll or Evan Lonergan at Knight Frank on 01-634 2466.
