Cottage site ripe for development in Cork’s Barnavara Hill

Small old cottage sits on half an acre in residential Glanmire area, wrotes Tommy Barker.

Glanmire, Cork €150,000

Sq m 85 (920 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 1

BER: G

There’s more on offer at this semi-detached cottage on Cork’s Barnavara Hill than you’d first imagine - and that’s down to its half acre of ground.

Almost anyone looking at ‘Hillview’, this Glanmire offer due to be auctioned in three weeks time, will be looking as much at the grounds as at the house itself, with hopes of extension, or even a stand-alone second dwelling, alongside entertained by many.

The existing c 75-year-old dwelling is a three-bed with just over 900 sq ft of space, and although it has been lived in recently, it’s now more or less a doer-upper. Estate agent Andy Moore accepts it needs decorative and even some remedial attention; it had an attic room added some time ago, but in truth, he’s not really selling the property on the house’s merits, but mainly on its grounds, and potential.

Handily, the cottage is tucked in at the front corner of the site, leaving most of the half acre open for new uses. Right now, it holds a few old out-buildings, in various states of repair, but in new ownership, it could indeed host a brand new and quite sizeable house.

A planning window is open due to the residential character of the hill, with previous grants of planning for one dwelling here, and there’ s road frontage on two sides.

Mr Moore guides a reserve of €150,000 for the cottage and half-acre, due under the hammer on November 12, and he can expect interest from home hunters, site scouts, and even small builders. First-time buyers might even enter the fray, knowing they can move in with small enough work and make bigger plans for later years right alongside.

VERDICT: The auction should attract all types.