FCA land may rescue Fleming plans

THE army may come to the rescue of one of the country’s biggest builders and developers, Fleming Construction.

It has just advertised the proposed sale of a former FCA/Reserve Defence Force HQ, on Cork’s Douglas Road.

The prime development site, now deemed to be surplus to Department of Defence needs, could provide a key access point for Fleming Construction’s embattled eight-acre (but virtually land-locked) Nemo Rangers former GAA pitches, where the development company’s plans for 82 houses were shot down in August because of access issues.

The suburban half acre, with a basic market value of €2 million, is to be sold by public tender on January 30.

While there’ll be keen market interest in any case, it will have a particular appeal to developers Fleming Construction, who are one of the country’s strongest builders and developers with major schemes in Cork, Dublin and Waterford, as well as in Britain.

Fleming Construction bought the Nemo Rangers land and former playing pitches off the South Douglas Road in 2002 for about €8m, and built new replacement club facilities for the GAA team closer to Douglas village.

However, it had access difficulties to the Nemo land (which has been zoned for housing development) both off the South Douglas Road, and the Cross Douglas Road.

Fleming then attempted to buy two terraced houses on the main Douglas Road at Beechwood, at a traffic junction opposite the Bellair estate.

However, while Cork City Council granted permission for demolition of the houses six and seven, An Bord Pleanala overturned the decision and said the Beechwood houses formed part of an architecturally important terrace. Other traffic and access issues were also raised, but the Board approved of the quality of the house designs.

The former FCA hall and property, acquired by the Department of Defence in the 1940s, is now being sold by them. It will get a wide cross section of inquiries, but will be of most value to Fleming Construction, given its pivotal position and access to the Nemo land parcel.

Department of Defence Properties Officer Hugh Crawford said they were not giving a price guide.

A main Douglas Road address will give a premium price to any houses built on the Nemo and FCA/RDF lands.