Nuns to sell Clonsilla site for €25m

Religious Land: The first significant development site in a Strategic Development Zone has come on the market in the rapidly growing suburb of Clonsilla, Dublin 15, with a guide price of €25 million. Jack Fagan reports

It will be sold by tender on December 10th through agent Jones Lang LaSalle.

The 7.26 hectares (17.95 acres) greenfield site is located beside St Joseph's Hospital and is being sold by a religious order, the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, to help fund the redevelopment of the adjoining hospital.

The land is expected to accommodate at least 600 homes but given its close proximity to Clonsilla railway station, it will be no surprise if the planners approve of an even higher density.

The station is served by 48 suburban Arrow trains a day, making the journey to Connolly station in Dublin city centre in 21 minutes.

Connolly station provides convenient access to the IFSC, Dublin city centre, the DART line and is also the terminus of the Luas line to Tallaght and other transport hubs.

"The site is ideally located for residential development in an area that includes the thriving communities of Blanchardstown, Clonsilla and Ongar," according to Des Lennon of the selling agents.

"The population in this area has grown rapidly in the past few years in response to the attractions of its accessibility to the city centre and the amenities available in the area itself."

The development of the St Joseph's site is a significant element of the Hansfield Strategic Development Zone. Once the SDZ designation is agreed, third party appeals will not be allowed against planning permission.

A draft plan has been prepared for the SDZ and a decision on its adoption is due shortly.

Among the well-established amenities in the area are a good range of primary and post primary schools, Blanchardstown Town Centre and Luttrellstown and Westmanstown golf courses.

The Daughters of Charity, whose main services are for people with intellectual disabilities, said the decision to sell was taken after detailed consideration of finding the best way to fund a much needed upgrade of their facilities.

"All proceeds from the sale at St Joseph's will be invested in our Intellectual Disability Service," the order said in a statement. "The Daughters of Charity have extensive plans to rehouse the 170 people in our care at St Joseph's, as the accommodation currently in use at the site is dated and badly needs a major upgrade."

The order confirmed that it has plans to upgrade the facilities at their centres on Navan Road and Glenmaroon in Chapelizod.