Bill Cullen's Glencullen Group, which distributes Renault cars in Ireland, has acquired a six-acre site beside Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in west Dublin for a motor mall. The purchase price, agreed three years ago, is understood to be around £4 million. The company says it will be investing £12 million in the project. The 42,000 sq ft of space to be built will be available to let to six other motor dealerships. A number of motor companies are already negotiating to rent some of the units, which will be finished to a high specification. It will be the first motor mall in this country beside a major shopping and leisure centre, according to Tony Sutton of Glencullen. In addition to making space available for the various dealerships, the promoters also plan to provide a range of services including customer consultants who will provide a follow up service for car buyers. The companies to occupy the various units are due to be announced in April and the mall will open for business before the end of the year.
The Glencullen Group owns a similar motor mall in the Thames Valley, in the UK. It was acquired last year along with the Whichford Motor Group, which has 16 dealerships. Aidan O'Hogan of Hamilton Osborne King, which sold the site on behalf of O'Callaghan Properties and Grosvenor Estate Holdings, said the motor mall would be another strong selling point for Liffey Valley.
