O’Flynn buys former Motorola site for €22.5m

ONE of the biggest commercial sales in Cork city this year has been scooped by developer Michael O’Flynn.

The developer, through his company O’Flynn Construction, has purchased the Motorola site on the Skehard Road, Mahon, for a sum believed to be in the region of €22.5 million.

The company ceased production on the site early this year with the loss of 330 jobs. The production site went on the market in May with joint agents, John Downing of Cohalan Downing and Jones LangLa Salle.

It is believed there were two other strong bidders for the site, with O’Flynn Construction coming third, but both parties failed to perform and the sale was agreed with at €22.5m.

The 10-acre facility, which is set in the middle of the fast-growing Mahon retail, warehousing, business and office locale, was marketed as a redevelopment play with a guide of €20m.

O’Flynn Construction’s purchase of the property could signal a conversion to a business park along the lines of East Gate, their successful and hard-won scheme at Little Island, which is now close to being fully let, following a 10-year development period.

Skehard Road/ Mahon, is one of the fastest growing commercial zones in the city, despite Motorola’s relocation.

The nearby former Sifco site is now in conversion to a mixed-use office scheme named City Gate, with a 1,200 job forecast when fully let.