BusinessParks: The €250 million City North business campus development is well underway with its first element, a four-star 128 bedroom hotel, due to open this December.
Set on 100 acres, the campus will provide bespoke business accommodation in a state-of-the-art environment 15 minutes drive from Dublin Airport.
City North lies along the M1 Dublin-to-Belfast motorway and developer McGarrell Reilly has produced drive-time statistics to show it is no more than 15 minutes "all day every day" from the airport, Dublin Port Tunnel and the M50.
Planning permission has just been granted for phase one of the business park, providing business units for small incubator space up to large distribution warehouses. Additional phases at City North will provide motor showrooms, general showrooms and own-door office accommodation.
Phase one units will be available to buy or let and the first units will be available for occupation by the second quarter of 2007.
Agent Kelly Walsh Property Advisors & Agents is also offering design-and-build packages to suit owner-occupiers. Land sales will also be considered to occupiers subject to development controls.
The Meath County Council planning permission for phase one provides for 24 terraced units ranging from 377-754sq m (4,058-8,116sq ft); a 3,960sq m (42,625sq ft) detached distribution warehouse on 0.81 hectare (two acres); and a detached distribution warehouse on 1.2 hectares (three acres) extending to 5,909sq m (63,603sq ft).
The developer will construct units on a design-and-build basis to meet user requirements.
A guide price for the service is approximated at €1,722 per sq m (€160 per sq ft).
McGarrell Reilly will also enter into new long term leases with occupiers, either in the units being constructed on a speculative basis in phase one, or on a design-and-build basis to suit individual requirements. Rentals are quoted in the order of €129 per sq m (€12 per sq ft).
Henry J Lyons and Partners Architects designed these modern units set in a landscaped environment. Eaves heights will range from seven metres (23ft) to 10 metres (33ft). The terraced units will have two-storey office accommodation to the front with full height electrically operated loading doors.
Subsequent phases will provide for own-door office suites, large signature office blocks and recreational facilities, according to the agent. The developers will shortly lodge a planning application for own-door office suites available to buy or let. Pricing for these is expected to be in the order of €4,305 per sq m (€400 per sq ft).
A central feature of the development is the €27 million City North Hotel. Due to open in December, it will provide 128 luxury bedrooms, conference and banqueting for up to 500 people, a fine dining restaurant and a bar. The hotel was also designed by Henry J Lyons, designers of the Clarion Hotel at Liffey Valley, the Radisson SAS Galway and the Westin Hotel in Dublin city centre. The property is being developed on behalf of McGarrell Reilly by the Sammon Group. Having the hotel on hand before the business accommodation opens ensures that initial occupiers can benefit from on-site services from day one.
A particular selling point for accommodation at City North will be location. It lies on the M1 and will have its own interchange. It is close to Dublin but its position along the motorway means that City North is readily reached from anywhere in the north-east right up to the Border.
