Over €30m for 21 acres near planned transport hub

Development LandA 21-acre football pitch near the planned junction of the Metro North and Metro West close to Dublin Airport will be of interest to investors and developers when it is offered for sale by tender next month.

Stephen Cassidy of Savills HOK is suggesting a price of over €30 million for Parnells GAA Club's football pitch which is south of the airport at Collinstown Road. The grounds adjoin the extremely valuable 200-acre land bank owned by businessman Hugo Byrne which has been identified as the site for the Metro park station.

It is expected to sell for between €250 million and €300 million, according to an agent specialising in land sales.

Metro West trains from Tallaght to the airport will either switch onto the planned Metro North line at the Collinstown Road site or passengers will transfer to the Metro North train which will take them directly to the airport itself. Work on the Metro North line linking St Stephen's Green with Swords is due to begin in 2009. The GAA grounds going for sale have 260 metres of frontage on to Collinstown Road and are likely to be used either as an adjunct to the Metro park or for a development of commercial and office buildings.

The strategic location of the land is recognised in the Fingal development plan which accords it "ST1" zoning and also recommends that it and adjoining land should be the subject of a local area plan to ensure that there is a co-ordinated development scheme linked into the new transport service. It is just 1.5kms from the Ballymun interchange on the M50 where Ikea is to open a major new store.

Unlike most city clubs selling their grounds, Parnells will be moving closer to the city centre, having come to an agreement with St David's Christian Brothers Club in Artane to share their grounds. Once the Collinstown Road land is sold, the club will invest heavily in upgrading the facilities in Artane and on acquiring additional land close to their clubhouse in Coolock village.