Mixed-use space to buy/let in business park near Athlone

BusinessCampuses:A limited amount of commercial and retail space remains at the Gateway mixed-use development just off the N6 in west Athlone. Options are for lease or purchase with office space available from €2,530 per sq m (€235 per sq ft) to buy and about €162 per sq m (€15 per sq ft) to lease.

Gateway is a large campus offering 13,500sq m (145,313sq ft) of space for offices, warehousing and retail. Less that 1km from the Athlone Relief Road that will connect to the N6 in 2008, about 10,000sq m (107,639sq ft) is already agreed, with space still available in a number of the complex's five blocks.

Already opened is the Athlone Springs Hotel and Smiths Super-Valu, with a pharmacy and medical centre due to open before 2008. The remaining offices range from 100sq m (1,076sq ft) up to 205sq m (2,207sq ft) while industrial space ranges from 350sq m (3,767sq ft) to 900sq m (9,688sq ft). All are easily accessible and can make use of over 400 car-parking spaces on site.

The office accommodation is priced from €2,530 per sq m (€235 per sq ft) to buy and to lease from €161.5 per sq m (€15 per sq ft).

The industrial space is priced from €1,615 per sq m (€150 per sq ft) to buy and from €80.74 per sq m (€7.5 per sq ft) to lease.

A limited amount of retail space is also available priced from €5,382.5 per sq m (€500 per sq ft) to buy and from €296 per sq m (€27.5 per sq ft) to lease.

Developed in a series of five blocks, Gateway has retail and office facilities to the east, with a glass fronted building in the roadside designed to compliment the Athlone Springs Hotel, according to agent Healy Hynes of Hynes Real Estate Alliance, sole agent for the development.

Block B, the office block, will be complete for this Christmas, with Blocks E and F scheduled for completion by early 2008. Block B comprises two floors of offices over ground floor retail. Suites range from 100sq m (1,076sq ft) to 205sq m (2,207sq ft).

Blocks E and F offer 5,000sq m (53,820sq ft) of industrial accommodation. To date, the agent reports Block E has 80 per cent reserved with a range of owner-occupier businesses.

The units in block E comprise 350sq m (3,767sq ft) of warehousing and offices with two storeys of offices at the front of the units and six-metre high warehousing with rear loading facilities.

"The park is proving of interest to businesses looking to re-locate from other locations in Athlone and also those looking for an easily accessible national distribution location," says Hynes.

Anchors at Gateway include the 68-bed, four-star Athlone Springs Hotel.

The hotel, operated by Vantage Hotel Management Company, has a bright split-level restaurant, a bar, ballroom, conference and meeting rooms.

There is also a 1,600sq m (17,222sq ft) fitness and leisure club. The facilities include a 20-metre pool, gym, aerobics centre, children's playroom, team room and four treatment rooms.

The other anchor is Smith's SuperValu, which at over 1,400sq m (15,069sq ft), is the largest convenience store in suburban Athlone.