€4.75m paid for 15 West Cork acres, as one-acre Cork city site seeks €4.5m

The coastal town is witnessing a substantial scale of residential development, most on its western fringes, says agent Andy Donoghue of Hodnett Forde, who has closed a deal on 15 acres to a Dublin-based developer who aims to deliver up to 112 units via a local builder in West Cork, with planning already in place for 92 units, a mix of two-, three- and four-bed homes (see Planning Notes also, left).

Mr Donoghue said the off-market €4.75m deal on the 4.92 ha/12 acres, equivalent to almost €400,000 an acre — one of the largest in the region for some time — had been several years in the offing.

Several hurdles were overcome and improvements in water supply from Bandon finally permitted its progress. There are hopes for further units to be added to the land holding, which was sold by local business/milling family the Hills, who achieved planning under a company called Cloncastle Developments.

It’s located just west of The Miles where some 100 other homes have been completed in a development now with a third phase concluding; also nearby is the 99-home scheme An Sruthan Beag on 14 acres.

Mr Donoghue said there had been extensive local interest in the land sale until the figure reached close to the final selling sum of €4.75m. “I drove the roads of Ireland to find a developer at that level outside of West Cork,” he said.

He declined to identify the buyer for now but said he had previous successful developments elsewhere in Cork.

It’s understood a local builder will deliver the new builds, with work likely to start by early 2026, adding to social housing supply of over 50 units already completed on Western Road in Páirc Thiar.

MEANWHILE, a revised application was made in June 2025 on a large-scale residential development of 246 units (to include 50 social units) on eight hectares, west of the Clonakilty Park Hotel, near Lady’s Cross and the agricultural grounds where Tesco has signalled plans for a store.

The application is from HB Clogheen Developments Ltd, associated with local land owner Herbert Buttimer and builder Martin Dempsey Construction, who previously collaborated on An Sruthan Beag.

The application includes 170 houses, 69 apartments in three blocks, and a creche. A previous application was lodged in late September 2024. The planning file shows letters expressing concern about access/traffic given the scale of the proposed development, possibly the larg-est in a single application in any West Cork town.

ELSEWHERE, a land offer on the eastern side of Clonakilty, past the Shannonvale factory on the Timoleague road at Gallanes, Clonakilty, sees 12 acres of tillage land with the prospect of future development plan scope, says selling agent Andy Donoghue of Hodnett Forde.

The agency is reoffering the land after a previous deal didn’t proceed. They guide the 12 acres (currently in stubble) in the mid €500,000s. “The location and layout of this property, combined with the rapidly growing environs of Clonakilty town would surely deem this holding to be one of serious developmental potential in the not too distant future,” said Mr Donoghue.

DETAILS: Hodnett Forde 023 8833367

€4.5m PATRICK’S QUAY SITE OFFERED

A former warehouse site on a one-acre plot in Cork City has also been brought to market this week with a guide price of €4.5m.

The one-acre site at St Patrick’s Quay was previously controlled by developer Paul Kenny, who secured approval in the early to mid-2000s for a 130,000 sq ft office scheme intended to relocate the Revenue Commissioners from their historic premises on Sullivan’s Quay.

It’s now for sale via receivers Kroll, acting for a fund, and agents CBRE who say it may suit hotel or residential uses. It “presents a rare opportunity for developers and investors to acquire a strategically located site in the heart of Cork City.

“Given its scale and prime location, the site is well-suited to a wide variety of potential uses. We anticipate strong interest from both domestic and international parties, particularly those focused on delivering much-needed housing in Cork City.”