Remainsofghost estateauctioned

December 2012

THE REMAINS of a Blessington ghost estate are set for auction next month at a fraction of the price paid for the lands six years ago.

Agents Savills are offering Milltown Gate Housing Estate for sale at auction on November 21, with a guiding price of €350,000 plus VAT for the housing scheme. The site, consisting of 4.5 acres, used to belong to the local GAA club before being sold for €9.2 million in 2006.

The site includes planning permission for 54 houses, of which nine are sold and occupied. A further six houses are 80 per cent finished and are included in the sale, along with 39 partly serviced sites. Willowbridge Developments partially built the housing scheme before the collapse of the property market. KPMG was subsequently appointed receivers over the company.

The planning permission allows for detached, semi-detached and terraced houses with a mixture of two, three and four bedrooms.

The sites are laid out in two cul-de-sacs directly opposite the row of completed houses.

It is believed the site will appeal to developers tempted by a low entry cost and a low development opportunity as six houses are almost ready to go and a further six sites already have foundations.

But first the Wicklow Hospice Foundation must raise the €3 million it will take to build the facility, which will create up to 60 jobs.

Hospice Spokesperson, Miriam McGrath, described the donation from the Columban sisters as ‘fantastic news.’

‘It’s a hugely generous donation and the Sisters are right behind our campaign. It gives us something positive to look forward to. We are working closely with the HSE and their timeframe of 2012 for a dedicated Hospice.’

The facility will cater for hospice patients from all around the county.

Wicklow Hospital and St. Colman’s in Rathdrum make three beds available for hospice care in the county, but most terminally ill patients from Wicklow in need of a hospice bed have to travel or do without the essential in-patient care.

Currently there are only five specialist palliative care day nurses serving the county.

Now the attention of the Wicklow Hospice Foundation will turn to the €3 million they need to fund the building of the Hospice.