Rare Schull development site with full planning for 57 West Cork homes for €3.7m

The largest residential development site since 2008 in Schull

Schull site with planning permission for 57 homes.

A prime development site with full planning permission for 57 homes in West Cork’s picturesque village of Schull, has been launched to market with a price tag of €3.7m.

Permission for the scheme —– likely the largest residential development proposed for the village since before the 2008 financial crash — was granted last year to Richard (Ricky) Walsh of Carmina Properties Ltd.

Mr Walsh was also the developer of Copper Point, a nearby 55-home development on Colla Road, where the original rollout as an upmarket holiday home scheme was disrupted by the economic downturn.

The latest scheme is for a mix of housing types, including seven detached homes, 22 semi-detached units, 18 townhouses, and 10 duplex apartments, spread over a site of approximately 2.26 hectares (5.5 acres).

Selling agent James O’Donovan, commercial divisional director with Savills, said it had been years since a site of comparable scale had come to market in Schull “and certainly none with full planning permission”.

He expects interest from small West Cork-based builders as well as Cork developers active in towns such as Bandon and Clonakilty. The scheme, permitted on appeal with more than 50 conditions attached, has a net density of 26.8 units per hectare. The cost per stand, based on the €3.7m asking price, is €65,000.

The Colla Road location is expected to be a significant selling point. The area is regarded as one of Schull’s more desirable residential addresses where individual homes have achieved frothy prices in recent years. One or two have breached the €2m mark, including Cuan Bán, the water-fronting former home of the late businessman Bernie Cahill, making €2.1m in 2019, with Fastnet House hitting the same price height in 2023.

More recently Grove House sold to an Irish family for use as a holiday home for close to €1m for its owner, Swede Katarina Runske who ran it as a guesthouse and high-end restaurant.

Just last month, shoreline-hugging Schull Point, an architect-designed 1960s property that featured in Irish Examiner Property, came to market for €1.85m.

While the Colla Road site featured here does not have water frontage, Savills said the planned homes are “all thoughtfully positioned to maximise the site’s exceptional coastal views”.

“The elevated south-facing aspect of the site provides panoramic views over Schull Harbour and Roaringwater Bay, creating a truly unique residential setting,” said agent Mr O’Donovan.

He said the development had been carefully designed to complement the site’s topography and maximise its coastal orientation, “ensuring strong appeal for both owner-occupiers and lifestyle purchasers”.

Schull’s picturesque setting and established appeal among the sailing fraternity has long made it a popular choice for lifestyle buyers. For the same reasons, it experiences a significant population swell in the summer months, with regattas and sailing festivals a major draw. Calves Week, held every year in August, is a highlight of the sailing calendar, while the biennial Fastnet Race — one of the world’s most famous offshore yacht races — passes close to the coastline.

Colla Road itself runs southwest from the centre of Schull towards Colla Pier where ferries serve Long Island, which is surrounded by sailing destinations like Cape Clear, Sherkin, and Heir islands.

The site for sale is within walking distance of Schull town centre, which has a cosmopolitan character. One of its starriest part-time residents is Oscar-nominated actor Paul Mescal, who bought a Schull farmhouse property in recent years.

The village is well-stocked with pubs, eateries, and recreational amenities, as well as schools and medical facilities. Mr O’Donovan said it benefits from a vibrant year-round community, supported by tourism, marine activities, agriculture and a growing remote-working population attracted by the quality of life on offer.

From a connectivity perspective, Schull is located approximately 105km from Cork City and Cork Airport.

Mr O’Donovan described the site sale as “a rare opportunity to acquire a ready-to-go residential development site in one of Ireland’s most desirable coastal locations”.

“Schull continues to experience strong demand driven by a combination of permanent occupiers, lifestyle purchasers and limited housing supply.

“The scale, planning status, and outstanding setting makes it a highly compelling proposition for developers,” the agent said.

DETAILS: James O’Donovan Email: [e-mail] Tel: [phone] David McCarthy E: [e-mail] Tel: [phone]