KILDARE Vocational Education Committee has availed of the weak property market to buy in a new educational centre in Maynooth.

The education body has paid slightly over €1.5 million for six retail units extending to 2,350sq m (25,400sq ft) at Manor Mill shopping centre which was completed almost a decade ago. One of the units, originally designed to accommodate a ground floor bar, has a floor area of 55.7sq m (600sq ft) while the balance of the space, planned for use as a restaurant and gym, is located along the first floor of the building. The selling price also included 25 car-parking spaces in the basement.

Dunnes Stores anchors the shopping centre which was built by Laing O’Rourke and acquired by Davy Private Clients.

The complex also includes 211 apartments which were sold individually.

Robert McNamara of Bannon advised Kildare VEC which is to use the premises for general education purposes including adult education.

Coonan estate agents acted for Laing O’Rourke.