The Cherrywood Science and Technology Park at Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, has been boosted by the decision of the computer giant Dell to relocate part of its Irish operation to a new high-tech building in the complex.
Dell, the world's leading direct computer systems company, will be paying a rent of £17 per sq ft for a 55,000 sq ft building. The 25-year lease provides for "standard American-style break clauses", according to a spokesman.
The decision to choose Cherrywood will be seen as a major coup for the park, which was in competition with several other office venues, such as City West and Sandyford.
Noel Murray of Dunloe Ewart said Dell's decision further underpinned Cherrywood as a destination for high-tech companies.
The first block in the park, a unit of 63,000 sq ft, has been leased to Lucent Technology.
Dell will use the Cherrywood facility for research development and to provide technical support for the UK and Ireland. The plant will also have a business unit for for the company's Irish activities.
The 100-acre Cherrywood park is a joint venture between Dunloe Ewart, the British Land Corporation and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The developers recently secured planning permission for the next five blocks, which will have around 250,000 sq ft of space. The contractor, PJ Hegarty, will begin construction of the first three blocks. This phase will include a management headquarters for the park as well as a convenience store, creche and banking facilities.
