ONE OF ENNISKILLEN’s longest standing eyesores, the former Desmond’s factory site at Mill Street, is set to be transformed, paving the way for what ranks as the single biggest new housing development here in years.
The 4.62 acre site (1.87 hectares , derelict for 15 years ,went under the hammer on Friday, November 27 in a property auction at the Clayton Hotel, Belfast selling for £460,000 and planning permission is in place for 116 residential dwellings.
In a further housing boost for Enniskillen an additional 41 dwellings look set to be a built at Derrygore Road after 2.58 acres of development land was sold for over £180,000.
The property market in the county seems to be at long last turning the corner, with further green shoots coming through news this week that housing prices in Fermanagh are up a collosal 15% on last year.
The exciting development at the Factory Road, close to Enniskillen cinema and Brewster Park promises a variety of residential dwellings, with frontage onto the Racecourse lough.
The prime town site, previously owned by Dunsfort Developments Ltd, Enniskillen has planning permission from June 2011 for a development, which comprises 34 dwelling houses (a mixture of 2 and 2.5 storey buildings), two two-unit appartment blocks (two storey buildings) and six 13 unit appartment blocks (four storey plus basement).
Thomas Osborne from Osborne King, who was the auctioneer on Friday, confirmed there was a “good interest” in the former factory site explaining that there had been a “resurgence” in the demand for development land across the board.
“We had a couple of development opportunities in Enniskillen, a couple in Cookstown. Demand’s good again for development land which filters into the residential market which is quite buoyant this year.”
Although he could not give information on the buyer Mr Osborne said: “I would assume they’re probably local or know the area.”
Despite the significant development opportunities for the site and relatively meagre sale price Mr Osborne insisted the seller was “happy enough”, with the site achieving £10,000 over the maximum reserve.
Michael Leslie, of Smyth and Leslie and Co estate agents believes the price represented good value.
“I would say it’s fairly keen at that, but I suppose that’s typical of an auction situation. For town centre it sounds fairly good value at that.”
The site at Derrygore Road in Enniskilen, formerly owned by Dawn Developments, is accessed directly off Cherryville, an area of mainly detached residential dwellings and backsonto Enniskillen Integrated Primary School.
On March 14, 2011 planning permission was granted for the erection for 29 houses and 12 appartments. The item had been listed for the same auction on November 27, but due to interest and prior activity it was sold beforehand. Mr Osborne confirmed that the site made more than the £180,000 maximum reserve price, but would not disclose the exact amount.
Mr Leslie believes the new developments could do well in the town, with a demand at present for housing.
“It shows there’s obviously a bit of confidence in the market, which there is. Somebody’s willing to take a chance. Anything around the town boundaries will perform well I would say. That Desmond’s site if it’s going to be a mixture of appartments and maybe semis and things like that it should go well because we’re lacking that at the minute.”
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Posted: 9:00 am December 3, 2015