Kinsale luxury homes site hits market for €3.25m

The site, off Catholic Walk, has full planning permission for 18 units but may also appeal to a wealthy individual keen to develop a one-of-a-kind home

A 2.72a site on Catholic Walk Kinsale, with full planning permission for 18 luxury homes, is for sale via Cushman & Wakefield for €3.25m exclusive

A PRIME development site with full planning permission for 18 luxury homes in the property hotspot of Kinsale has hit the market with a price tag of €3.25m.

The 2.72a (1.1ha) landbank is in a constrained coastal market where house prices rank among the highest in the country. The site, located, off Catholic Walk, a predominantly residential area close to the town centre and with sweeping harbour views, has permission for a mix of units including

• Five four-bed detached homes (2,828sq ft);
• Eight three-bed semi-detached units (1,968sq ft);
• Three two-bed apartments (900 sq ft to 1,528sq ft);
• Two one-bed apartments (573sq ft).

The elevated site, in the townland of Rathmore, was previously owned by the Graepel family, long-established metalworks’ operators in the town, who disposed of the land about a decade ago. Last December, a Cork City-based company called Catholic Walk Kinsale Ltd, whose directors include Brian Theodore Donahoe, James Duda, and Michael Crowley, secured planning permission on appeal from An Coimisiún Pleanála for the niche 18-home scheme.

The subject site includes an existing six-bed dwelling, with demolition permitted under the recent planning grant.

The proposed development has a density of approximately 21 units per hectare, higher than the surrounding low-density residential pattern, but within the parameters of the County Development Plan. On a per-unit basis, the land equates to roughly €180,000 per stand. This compares with approximately €97,000 per unit at a Rampart Lane site in Kinsale’s Town-Plots area, where a 1.3-acre site, also with full planning permission for 18 units, has gone sale agreed. It was brought to market in March via Sheehy Bros auctioneers with a price tag of €1.75m. It has a higher density of 35 units per ha versus 21 units per ha at Catholic Walk.

The Catholic Walk sale is being overseen by Philip Horgan and Peter O’Flynn of Cushman & Wakefield, who described the land as “a cracking site”. The agents expect interest from both small-scale developers and high-net-worth individuals seeking a prime opportunity in Kinsale.

“It could go either way. You could have a developer who sees the potential for a truly prestigious and distinctive scheme, or it could attract a wealthy individual who wants to develop a home within a two-minute walk of the town centre, with breathtaking views of Kinsale Harbour,” Mr Horgan said.

High net worth buyers are fans of Kinsale

Kinsale has long been a magnet for affluent buyers drawn to its lifestyle exclusivity and international-grade coastal appeal. The town is increasingly viewed as both a relocation hub and a luxury second-home destination, supported by its marina, sailing culture, high-end dining scene, and proximity to world-class golfing facilities such as at the Old Head of Kinsale.

Recent high-profile interest has included US billionaire James Berwind, who has acquired multiple properties in the coastal town.

Nike heir Travis Knight also has a base above Kinsale’s Scilly Walk.

Even as development land in Kinsale — particularly sites with full planning permission — continues to command premium prices due to extreme supply constraints, the underlying driver for developers remains strong end-user/house price values.

At Convent Garden in Kinsale town, luxury duplex units with harbour views have achieved in excess of €1m, while seven under-construction villas are expected to launch later this year at reported prices of €4m–€5m each.

Mr Horgan said compared with other new developments in Kinsale, the Catholic Walk site is “arguably in a better location”, just 700m north-east of the town centre.

He added that the proposed units are “exceptionally generous”, with four-bedroom detached homes approaching 3,000sq ft.

The agents said as well as Kinsale’s scenic beauty, the property location “provides a tranquil residential haven that perfectly bridges absolute privacy with central convenience, located just 25 minutes from Cork International Airport and 30 minutes from Cork City centre”.

The site’s €3.25m price tag excludes VAT.

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