Landmark cottage that’s almost on De Banks won’t break the bank

LEEMOUNT COTTAGE has been a landmark at Leemount Cross west of Cork city for years.

The long, flat-roofed white structure hides a secret — its site. The one-bed is on a third of an acre site which runs down to the Martin river.

This tributary joins the Lee a few yards down, close to the Angler’s Rest pub, famous for its riverside gardens. The proposed new Northern Ring Road is earmarked to run close to Carrigrohane Castle.

Its great location, convenient to the city, Ballincollig and also, the major institutions of the western suburbs, should be a big draw.

On the market with Mark Kelly of Lisney, the cottage is already under offer at €310,000.

It has a very Sixties finish. Brass domed fireplaces, pine panelling and a split-level layout are part of its charm.

There was a little bit of a fad for this architectural style in the area, and a couple of similar houses are built on nearby Temple Hill, which overlooks the meandering Lee.

Leemount Cottage is 1,400 sq ft but could be extended, as the site is generous enough. There’s the option to run with the single-storey style and add some modern touches but a many potential buyers will only be interested in its site value.

Despite being on the edge of the city, it’s firmly in the Green Belt and the most recent site sale, literally across the road, netted €315,000 for a half acre through Terence O’Leary of Murray Browne. That plot had a locals-only zoning.

Any changes to Leemount Cottage will have to got through Cork County Council’s planning department.

There is huge scope for an imaginative extension, or new build, as the site would lend itself to something spectacular.

A drawback for families is the road, but with the removal of overgrowth at the rear, the full dimensions of the property would be revealed allowing more use of the south-facing aspect.

However, to the west, and particularly, the east, there are private, bounded gardens running down to the river, with only fields and wooded hills beyond.

And the advent of the new road could remove a lot of the heavy traffic from the doorstep. It will be interesting to see where the bidding goes on this one.