Macroom site for sale for €2.75m with major housing potential

Macroom land and ERA Downey McCarthy

A substantial 29-acre (11.74ha) site with potential to deliver up to 200 homes near Macroom town centre is on the market for €2.75m.

The prime development site includes 18a (7.29ha) zoned for housing as well as c.11a (4.45ha) currently outside the development boundary, comprised of a mix of woodland and pasture.

While the entire parcel is on the market with a €2.75m guide — plus Vat, if applicable — the vendors, a local family, are open to selling it in one or more lots.

ERA Downey McCarthy commercial agents Ger White and Seán McCarthy have already fielded enquiries from small- to medium-sized developers, both locally based, and beyond.

“People are aware of the site, and we’ve had discussions with a number of parties, small- to medium-sized developers, both local and from Cork city, and beyond,” Mr White said.

The agents estimate that the subject site on the eastern outskirts of Macroom and within walking distance of the town centre has potential for c.150-200 residential units, a mix of houses and apartments “depending on design, terms of planning permission, and capacity for services”.

Mr White said services are at hand “subject to appropriate connection agreements with utility providers”.

A key service under expansion is the town’s wastewater treatment plant, currently undergoing a €21m upgrade courtesy of Uisce Éireann.

Considered essential for housing and economic growth, the new plant is due to become fully operational this year and is designed to serve a population equivalent of around 7,700, almost double the current figure of 4,096.

Cork County Council’s population target for 2028 is to grow the population by 1,044, and it estimates that 399 additional housing units will be needed.

In response to the Government call-out last year for local authorities to rezone more land for residential development, some of the land included in this sale — 7.5a (3.04ha) — was recently rezoned, increasing the amount available for housing from 10.5a (4.25ha) to a total of 18a.

The remaining agricultural land (11a) may appeal to a developer buyer who wishes to own the adjoining land, or it might be of interest to local farmers.

The lands, directly adjoining Macroom Motors Complex on Cork St/R618, are in a single parcel and the zoned lands have two access points from the R618, with c200m of road frontage over the two access points.

The County Development Plan provides for a new road and cycleway to traverse the zoned lands from the R618, connecting into Macroom town, to the adjoining O’Brien O’Flynn Oakwood housing development and to St Joseph’s Primary School.

The nearby N22 bypass provides excellent connectivity east to Cork city and west to Killarney, 30 minutes by car in either direction.

ERA Downey McCarthy has form in Macroom, having sold 10 acres of zoned land with no planning permission at Rás an Mhuileann in Gurteenroe, Macroom in 2022 for €1.5m, or €150,000 per acre.

More recently, they sold land close to the subject site with full planning permission for houses at Mill Reef Creek. The sale price has not been disclosed.

The agents note that the current land parcel comes to market against a backdrop of a shortage of sites capable of activation for housing, ie zoned, with services available and capable of getting utility connection agreements with Uisce Éireann for sewer and water main. Uisce Éireann is currently upgrading the Macroom town centre water main infrastructure.

Macroom is a thriving market town with a strong farming hinterland and good public transport links.

Recreational activities include water sports at the Carrig Waterski and Wakeboard Centre, while the Gearagh Nature Reserve is popular with birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. The nearby Lee Valley has an 18-hole parkland golf course.

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