Development Land: A partially-zoned housing site at Kilgarran Hill in Enniskerry could set a record price for development land in Co Wicklow when it is sold by tender next month, according to the selling agent.

CB Richard Ellis Gunne is quoting a guide price of over €20 million for the land which runs into the centre of the village.

Of the 56 acres going for sale, 23.1 acres are zoned for a residential development in the Enniskerry Local Area Plan 2002 to 2008.

The plan sets out specific phasing of new housing along with density projections. Developers pitching for the land will be hoping to persuade the planners to eventually rezone the remainder of the site.

Wesley Rothwell of the selling agent acknowledges that the planners will probably prefer a low density housing scheme on the zoned land going for sale.

This is likely to work out at about xxx per acre, or a maximum of xxx units on the 23.1 acres zoned for development.

Despite the relatively small number of houses expected to be approved at this stage, the site is likely to be of interest to a handful of developers because homes close to Enniskerry, and more particularly Powerscourt, invariably sell for significantly more than in most other Co Wicklow towns and villages.

Gunne calculates that large detached houses beside Enniskerry with floor areas from 185 to 300 sq m (1,991 to 3,229 sq ft) can sell from €900,000 to €1.5 million.

The agents also suggest that there may be potential to develop an apartment scheme on the site going for sale. Gunne has been advising interested builders to walk the land at Kilgarran Hill in order to appreciate the magnificent views of both the Wicklow coast and the Wicklow mountains.

The land goes to tender on April 2nd.