Upmarket homes to replace former Smurfit Paper Mills in Clonskeagh

Gannon Properties is to begin construction of 88 townhouses and apartments

Gannon Properties is to begin construction in the second half of this year on a development of 88 townhouses and apartments on the site of the former Smurfit Paper Mills at Clonskeagh, Dublin

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Dublin City Council has just granted planning permission for the €40 million project on the banks of the river Dodder, the first substantial residential development in Clonskeagh for more than 15 years.

The scheme has been designed to take full advantage of the picturesque views of the weir on the Dodder and will deliver five three-bedroom townhouses, 68 two-bedroom and 15 one-bedroom apartments.

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The homes will have generous internal layouts while the apartments will have spacious external balconies. Gannon has paid particular attention to the detail of the internal layout and the specification given the target market for what it says will be a “ highly prestigious development”.

Developer Gerry Gannon acquired the old Paper Mills as part of the overall purchase of the K Club with Dr Michael Smurfit in 2005.

He subsequently sold his 50 per cent stake in the country club to Dr Smurfit.

The Clonskeagh project will form part of an ambitious building programme in 2015 to which Gannon Properties has signed up following the successful launch of two new homes schemes at Clongriffin on the northern fringe of the city and Millers Glen in Swords.

In Clongriffin, Gannon built and sold 40 houses in 2014. This year’s plans include the building of 30 apartments and the commencement of work on 110 two, three and four bedroom houses aimed at first-time buyers. The houses have been designed to provide extra large living space as well as storage facilities and utility rooms as standard.

The company is also to lodge a planning application for another part of its landholding in Clongriffin where it is planning to provide 240 two-, three- and four-bedroom family homes and a range of larger apartments suitable for family living.

Clongriffin already benefits from a social and transport infrastructure. A local DART station services Connolly station in 17 minutes. The area also has a range of shops and there are plans to open a new gym in late spring.

In Swords, Gannon Properties is hoping to capitalise on the successful launch of its Millers Glen development. Since September all 60 homes planned for the site have been sold.

The company is in the process of seeking planning permission for another 170 three- and four-bedroom homes with the intention of starting construction later this spring.

Also in Swords Gannon is seeking planning permission for 250 homes on lands at Mooretown, off the Rathbeale Road.

The 110-acre site forms part of the western development boundary for Swords and will eventually include a supporting district centre, a specially designed 14-acre school campus for the Department of Education & Science and a community centre.

Work on the provision of services for the school campus are scheduled to commence in the first half of this year while the residential development is due to get under way in the second half of 2015.

Jack Fagan

Jack Fagan

Jack Fagan is the former commercial-property editor of The Irish Times