In Short

A roundup of today's other stories in brief.

Council blocks Anglo-Irish HQ

Liam Carroll's Danninger company is in danger of losing one of the largest ever office lettings in Dublin after being refused planning permission this week for a €300 million development on the former Brooks Thomas site on the North Wall Quay in the Dublin docklands. Danninger had already agreed to rent around 18,580sq m (200,000sq ft) to Anglo-Irish Bank after undercutting competing developers on the rent. The bank may now look elsewhere for a new HQ. A second letting of 9,290sq m (100,000sq ft) had been agreed with solicitors O'Donnell Sweeney.

City planners objected to the plot ratio of 3.8 in the eight-storey block, saying that it was in excess of the indicative plot ratio of 2.5/3.0 set out in the current development plan. The planners also criticised the "excessive bulk and massing of the buildings" which could result in traffic congestion in the vicinity. They also said it would set an undesirable precedent. It described the proposed ground floor uses onto the proposed urban square and the Liffey quays as "poor" and said it would not create a vibrant public domain or act as a focal point.

€8.5 million for Sandyford site

Sandyford's potential as a residential venue will be tested again next month when CB Richard Ellis offer for sale a site of 0.21 hectares (0.51 of an acre) at Corrig Road. The agency is guiding €8.5 million for the site which could accommodate 72 apartments and 1,044sq m (11,238sq ft) of ground floor retail space, according to a feasibility study. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has commissioned Urban Initiatives to prepare a "tall buildings" study for the area.

€900,000 for shop on quays

With retail investment in Dublin city centre almost always in short supply, Bogle Estates is expecting strong interest in the sale of the freehold interest in 20 Lower Ormond Quay which is occupied by West Coast Coffee Co. The guide price is €900,000,

The coffee shop is located at the junction of Lower Ormond Quay and Swift Row and is producing a rent of €40,000 per annum. There is double frontage and a floor area of 62.18sq m (669sq ft).

The same agency is seeking €2 million for a retail and office investment at Dublin Road, Shankill village, Co Dublin. The ground floor of 130sq m (1,399sq ft) is let to Quinns pharmacy at a rent of €50,146. A further €25,371 in rents comes from a doctor's surgery and four office suites.

Over €200,000 key money for shop on South Anne Street

Meanwhile, the same agency is seeking key money of over €200,000 for a well located retail premises on South Anne Street in Dublin 2. Fonemenders is paying a rent of €143,500 for the building which has 123sq m (1,324sq ft) of space on three floors, including 52.96sq m (570sq ft) on the ground floor. The company is to relocate in the south inner city and plans to open several other outlets in Cork, Limerick and Galway.

Showrooms for over €2.3m

McNally Handy & Partners is suggesting an AMV of over €2.3 million for rug specialist Peter Linden's showrooms at George's Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin, which goes to auction on May 2nd. The building has been subdivided into two retail units, one with 85sq m (915sq ft) over two floors and the other with 51sq m (549sq ft) on three levels. There is an internal courtyard accessed from the rear courtyard. Linden plans to operate a small gallery from a rear unit on a four years and nine months lease at the end of which he is due to retire.

€2m for Temple Bar building

Agent Hassett & Fitzsimons is seeking €2 million for a four-storey over basement terraced building at 7 Eustace Street in Temple Bar, Dublin 2, which is for sale by private treaty. A retail unit on the ground floor has a floor area of 31.86sq m (343sq ft) while there is also a rear office of 17sq m (183sq ft). The basement also has retail space while there are offices on the first and second floors and a one-bedroom apartment on the third floor.

D2 redbrick for €2.5 million

McNally Handy is seeking €2.5 million for an end-of-terrace period redbrick house at 7 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, which was damaged by fire in 2005. The owner has got planning permission to redevelop it as seven apartments, many of them with balconies and terraces and most with access to a communal roof terrace. There will be four car-parking spaces.

Rathgar investment makes €2.45m

Superquinn has paid €2.45 million for the Xtra-vision retail investment at 27/29 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6. The supermarket firm already owns a former garage next door. The Xtra-vision building is producing rents of €77,000 from the shop and an overhead office. Bogle Estate Agents, which handled the sale, has also secured around €3 million for a building let to Ulster Bank at Village Weir in Lucan. The rent of €81,898 was due to be reviewed in March 2006, and is likely to rise to about €120,000. There is a further 25 years to run on the lease.

Pino Harris buys 125 acres for €25m

The motor importer Pino Harris has emerged as the purchaser of part of the Co Kildare landbank offered for sale by the Odlum family. He paid €25 million - the equivalent of €200,000 per acre - for 125 acres on the northern side of the N7 Dublin-Naas road about 8kms west of the M50. Selling agent Savills HOK is in discussions with several parties to sell the remaining 357 acres owned by Odlums at Quinsborough, Naas Road. Last autumn, Pino Harris also spent €24 million on the purchase of the 10.5-acre Coca Cola bottling plant on the Naas Road in Dublin 12. It adjoins one of his other properties.

Oranmore pub for €3 million, Salthill restaurant for €1 million

Galway estate agent O'Donnellan & Joyce is guiding €3 million for an attractive cut-stone licensed premises in Oranmore which goes to tender on May 18th. The property was rebuilt only six years ago and contains a large extension at the rear incorporating two function rooms and a lounge.

The agency is also guiding €1 million for a restaurant investment in Salthill which is rented at €47,500 per annum. The ground floor restaurant can seat 40 diners. There is a three-bedroom apartment on the first floor.