A significant redevelopment opportunity will arise in the Co Kildare town of Maynooth when the Manor Mills is offered for sale through joint agents Coonan Auctioneers and Hooke & MacDonald. There is full planning permission for a mixed development of apartments, a hotel and office and retail accommodation on the 4.77-acre site which is expected to make between £10 million and £12 million when it goes to tender on June 7th.

Maynooth is one of the fastest growing towns in the greater Dublin area not only because of its university but also because it is close to a number of major industries including Intel, HewlettPackard and IBM. Kavanaghs of Maynooth have operated Manor Mills since 1835. They have now decided to relocate the business and have opted to either sell the mills or redevelop it on a joint venture basis.

The mills have extensive road frontage and are also bounded by the Lyrene river. Apart from easy access to Dublin city along the M4, Maynooth also has a railway service which is to be upgraded at a cost of £40 million. There are 31 train services daily to and from Dublin city.

Planning permission for the mill site provides for a gross development of over 231,000 sq ft. This includes 166 apartments in five four-storey and five-storey blocks, a hotel, and office and retail space.

If it is decided to change the hotel use to apartments, this would bring the number of residential units to over 200. There is also potential to provide park and ride facilities which attract tax incentives.

Maynooth is also to benefit from the proposed development of the nearby Carton Demesne into a five-star hotel, conference centre and country club.