School's back: Former Cork private school sold for over €2m is now up to rent for €145k a year

The former Rockboro School in Cork, sold for €2m in May, is being leased short-term while housing plans progress

Rockboro ERA

A former Cork private school that sold for just over €2m in May as a development site is being offered on a short, three-year span while its buyer seeks planning permission for a residential development.

Offered this week is the former Rockboro School at the city end of the Boreenmanna Road, pitched as being ideal as an educational facility, language school, as a training base or other similar use given its layout, currently in 14 classrooms.

It failed to reopen for the 2023 school year, following a drop in numbers in the covid period. Dating to 1969, it was capable of holding up to 180 pupils, and had recent fee levels of up to €5,000 per annum prior to its closure.

At the 50th anniversary of Rockboro primary ssholl in 2020 were Pauline McKechnie; former pupil and then-Tánaiste, Simon Coveney TD; Kevin O'Leary; Louisa Heckett; Canon George Salter; Pauline J McKechnie; Susan Dwane (principal) and Cllr. John Sheehan, Lord Mayor of Cork 2020.

It’s understood the undisclosed buyer is a developer who’ll seek planning permission for a medium/high density (but not high rise) residential development on the c 1.55 acre one-time quarry site.

That’s according to estate agent Sean McCarthy of ERA Downey McCarthy, who now seeks to rent the ex-school for a c three year period, quoting a rent of €15 per square foot/€145,000 pa. It comprises a solid main building of 690 sq metres/7,400 sq ft, with adjacent 208 sq m/2,230 sq ft prefab structure.

Mr McCarthy said the new owner is a client of his office whom they’ve worked with previously, but declined to identify him at present. It’s likely the new owner will seek permission to develop 40 or more units, in several blocks, subject to planning approval. Access is just before the Boreenmanna Road meets the N27/south city ling road/former rail line.

The site was sold with vacant possession, zoned Objective R2 “To protect and provide for residential uses and amenities, local services and community, institutional, educational and civic uses,” according to the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028.

The former school was sold by Bid X1 with up to four bidders early on, from a guide price of €1.2m, dropping to just two bidders from just under €1.7m, to finally sell online for €2.01m.

The non-denominational, co-educational school was operated by the Rockboro School Association, as a registered charity/trust, with last filings to the Charities Regulator in 2020, when it recorded a €33,000 loss.

Typically, proceeds on a winding up are used to discharge debt, with any surplus going to related (eg education) charities.

It’s understood the school was offered to the Department of Education prior to closing in 2023.

DETAILS: ERA Downey McCarthy 021-4905000