In Short

A round-up of other stories in brief.

Chief State Solicitor's Office takes space near Dublin Castle

The Chief State Solicitor's Office is to rent additional office space close to Dublin Castle. The office has agreed to lease 1,672sq m (18,000sq ft) on three floors of the newly completed Chancery Building beside the new Radisson Hotel off Golden Lane. The rent under the 20-year lease with a 10-year break option will be €322 per sq m (€30 per sq ft).

Nicholas Corson of Finnegan Menton advised the OPW on the letting while Weir & Conway acted for the developers who include John Fleming and Tom Phillips.

Adams looking to open five more outlets in Ireland

Adams Childrenswear, which operates 20 stores in Ireland, is planning to open five more outlets over the coming months. Caren Leon of CBRE in London is looking for stores of 1,858sq m (2,000sq ft) with about half that space again as a back-up. Towns being targeted include Clonmel, Naas, Mullingar and Navan.

Investor pays around €3.5m for retail unit at the Square

A private investor has paid around €3.5 million for a retail investment at The Square in Tallaght. The equivalent yield, once tax incentives are taken into account, will be almost 4 per cent. The 82sq m (883sq ft) unit is let to Claire's Accessories at a rent of €125,000 per annum.

Residential site of 11 acres in Kilcock makes €17m

A housebuilder is believed to have paid €17 million for a housing site close to the centre of Kilcock town in Co Kildare. The planners are expected to allow a high density housing scheme on the 11-acre site - possibly in excess of 12 units per acre - because of its location close to the town centre.

Coonan Real Estate Alliance in Maynooth, which handled the sale, is also understood to have secured in the region of €14 million for another site of five acres which is likely to be used for a development of over 80 residential units. The sale includes another six acres which have been reserved for a roadway.

30-acre residential farm in Co Wicklow for €750,000

Investors and families looking for a conveniently located farm to set up an equestrian operation will be interested in a 30-acre holding at Gilbinstown, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow, which is to be auctioned on June 28th. Colm McEvoy Auctioneers is quoting €750,000/€800,000 for the residential farm which is located within 45 minutes' drive of Dublin, just off the M9 motorway. There is a two-bedroom cottage on the farm.

Dental retailer for former bank on O'Connell Street

A trader has finally emerged for the former Bank of Ireland close to Clery's department store on Dublin's O'Connell Street. A dental retailer, trading as Smiles, is to open a dental shop in the landmark premises where the products will include whitening toothpaste and maintenance kits. Smiles is currently trading from South Anne Street in Dublin 2 and Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork.

The four-storey over basement building has a floor area of 420sq m (4,521sq ft) and has been let on a long lease at a rent of €165,000. Emma Coffey of Lisney describes Smiles as "an exciting and vibrant retailer" who will add to the attractiveness and overall tenant-user mix on O'Connell Street. The store is due to open on June 26th.

Former Pierre Hotel in Dun Laoghaire makes €4.5m

Housebuilder David Fitzpatrick has paid €4.5 million for the former Pierre Hotel at Victoria Avenue in Dún Laoghaire. It has planning permission for 16 apartments, suggesting a cost per unit of €280,000. DTZ Sherry FitzGerald handled the sale.

Retail investment in IFSC makes around €2m

Hamilton Osborne King has secured around €2 million for a retail investment in Dublin's IFSC.

Unit 3, Customs House Dock, is held under a 35-year repairing and insuring lease to Zaps Steakhouse from 2003 at a current rent of €120,000 per annum. The ground floor unit is located off Mayor Street, opposite the National College of Ireland, and has a floor area of 325sq m (3,498sq ft) including a mezzanine area.

The same agency has also secured €12.5 million for a mixed-use retail and residential investment at 63 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2. The three-storey building has a shop on the ground floor and two self-contained apartments and a studio unit on the upper floors. The building is currently producing a rent roll of €53,000.