A prime residential development site in the affluent south Dublin village of Dalkey is on the market for €5.75 million through DTZ Sherry FitzGerald.

The infill site, which extends to 1.53 hectares (3.14 acre), is off Castle Park Road and shares an access point through the recently refurbished castellated entrance to Castle Park School. It is a 10-minute walk to Dalkey and Glasthule villages, with a bus stop on Castle Park Road and the Dart stations in Dalkey and Glenageary about 15 minutes away on foot.

Under the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2010-2016 the property is zoned Objective A “to protect, and/or improve residential amenity”. The primary use permitted under this zoning is residential, but a number of commercial uses are open for consideration.

Rare opportunity

Rory Breen of DTZ Sherry FitzGerald said: "This property represents a rare opportunity to acquire a residential development site with potential for up to 50 apartments in two blocks within the well-established residential location of Dalkey."

Any potential development will be subject to securing the necessary planning permission. As the site is surrounded by mature residential developments and active neighbourhood associations – and located in the designated heritage town of Dalkey – any potential scheme would face a rigorous planning test.

The site was subject to a planning application in August 2014 for a development of 15 houses. This included seven large detached five-bed houses, six four-bed semis and two five-bed semis. The council rejected this, in September 2014, after numerous objections from local residents.

Part of the lands have been subject to planning applications for some time. In 2006 Castle Park School was refused permission for 81 residential units on part of the site by An Bord Pleanála, which said the height, layout and scale of the development would seriously injure adjacent houses.

The school was granted permission by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in December 2007 for 47 houses and apartments but this was subsequently appealed by locals. This was part of a deal between the school and a consortium of developers, including David Arnold, to acquire the lands for about €10 million subject to planning permission.