2 Woodford lane , Portmarnock, DublinD13VO49
€1,100,000
3 Bed~1 Bath~95 m²
What you'll like:
- Generous site acreage: The property occupies an impressive 0.7-acre plot, offering rare spatial abundance and substantial landscaping potential for future developments or extensions in a prime suburban setting.
- Central village location: Situated directly in the heart of Portmarnock village, future occupants will enjoy immediate walking access to local shops, cafes, schools, and essential community services.
- Medical facility proximity: Positioned conveniently right behind the Kingsford medical center, ensuring exceptional healthcare access and robust long-term appeal for medical professionals or families.
- Detached structural footprint: Built as a detached 1950s cottage, the home provides greater privacy, independent boundary lines, and freedom from shared party walls during upcoming renovation works.
- Mains sewer connection: The site is already successfully connected to the main public sewerage system, eliminating the high costs and installation complexities typically associated with rural septic tanks.
- Fully serviced plot: Having established utility connections on site significantly reduces initial infrastructure setup hurdles, allowing builders to focus directly on structural refurbishment and layout optimization.
- Established residential neighborhood: Located within a mature and highly sought-after coastal suburb, ensuring strong underlying property values and long-term capital appreciation for astute real estate investors.
- Coastal lifestyle access: Portmarnock is renowned for its stunning sandy beaches and coastal walks, providing an enviable outdoor lifestyle just minutes away from the front doorstep.
- Public transport proximity: Excellent proximity to local bus routes and nearby DART station options ensures seamless commuter connectivity into Dublin city center for working professionals.
- Development upside potential: The substantial plot size invites visionary buyers to explore various architectural configurations, maximizing the investment value of this unique coastal landholding.
- Renovation blank canvas: The existing 1950s structure requires complete modernization, allowing new owners to fully customize interior finishes, layouts, and energy efficiency upgrades to personal tastes.
- Historical planning precedent: Previous full planning permission on the land indicates that the local authority acknowledges residential intensification on this specific site under past frameworks.
- Independent driveway potential: The wide frontage and generous acreage easily accommodate secure off-street parking facilities for multiple vehicles, addressing a common suburban congestion challenge effectively.
- Family-friendly environment: The surrounding community features excellent schools and sports clubs, making this location exceptionally desirable for growing families seeking a long-term forever home.
- High rental demand: Portmarnock experiences consistently strong demand for rental properties, offering investors a lucrative opportunity to generate robust yields following successful site development.
- Compact existing footprint: The modest 95 square meter initial structure keeps demolition or initial stripping costs relatively manageable before undertaking larger-scale architectural enhancement projects.
- Dual development angles: Buyers can weigh the merits of restoring the charming 1950s cottage versus pursuing a completely new architectural vision across the extensive plot.
- Strong resale comparables: Properties in central Portmarnock command premium valuations, meaning successfully completed modern homes in this locale yield excellent financial returns upon eventual resale.
- Direct agent availability: Clear contact channels with the listing agent facilitate straightforward inquiries regarding access, existing planning history files, and immediate submission of competitive offers.
- Strategic landbanking opportunity: Acquiring a substantial 0.7-acre parcel in a prime urban village setting represents a rare asset preservation strategy against broader market inflationary pressures.
But keep in mind:
- Extensive refurbishment required: The existing 1950s cottage is heavily dated and requires comprehensive structural modernization, meaning buyers must budget significantly beyond the initial asking price.
- Lapsed planning permission: The previous full planning permission for a two-storey house has lapsed, requiring a fresh planning application process with uncertain approval outcomes from Fingal County Council.
- Expired planning timeline noted: Listing notes mention an expired planning timeline referenced to June 2026, meaning current buyers hold zero active development rights upon closing.
- Uncertain multi-house potential: While potential exists for multiple dwellings subject to planning, buyers should independently verify local zoning restrictions before assuming high-density approval is guaranteed.
- Lack of BER certificate: The property currently has no building energy rating provided, requiring immediate professional assessment to understand insulation deficits and heating upgrade costs.
- Modest initial floor area: The current dwelling provides only 95 square meters of living space, meaning it is entirely unlivable in its current state without major financial investment.
- Demolition risk considerations: Given the age of the 1950s structure, hidden defects such as asbestos, damp, or substandard foundations could dramatically escalate site clearance expenditures.
- Complex planning hurdles: Securing new residential planning permission on a constrained infill site requires specialized architectural consultants, increasing pre-construction holding and advisory costs.
- Fingal County Council oversight: Navigating local development guidelines under reference F15A/0317/E1 history requires rigorous due diligence to ensure new submissions align with current county development plans.
- High capital outlay risk: Combining the seven-figure asking price with heavy demolition, planning, and construction expenses demands robust financial backing and careful contingency planning.
- Construction sector inflation: Engaging builders and sourcing materials for extensive renovations currently involves high market costs, which could impact project profitability and budget overruns.
- Unverified utility capacities: Although fully serviced, buyers should verify whether existing water and electrical supplies can handle multiple new dwellings or major modern expansions.
- Potential boundary disputes: Older rural or village properties often feature ambiguous boundary lines, requiring a detailed legal survey to confirm exact ownership extents across the 0.7 acres.
- Access road limitations: Woodford Lane may experience congestion or narrow passage constraints during heavy construction phases, requiring careful logistical planning for heavy machinery delivery.
- Uncertain structural integrity: Without a detailed pre-purchase engineering survey, unknown defects in the 1950s masonry or roof timbers could present expensive hidden surprises upon purchase.
- Environmental and ecological checks: Buyers must investigate whether local environmental designations, tree preservation orders, or drainage requirements might complicate future multi-unit site layouts.
- Financing complexities: Traditional mortgage lenders may hesitate to finance a heavily deteriorated property lacking an active BER rating or functioning modern habitable standards.
- Holding costs during planning: The time required to secure fresh planning permission incurs ongoing holding costs, council fees, and professional design expenses before any construction revenue begins.
- Local infrastructural capacity: Future multi-house developments may face scrutiny regarding local traffic management, school placements, and sewage network capacities within central Portmarnock.
- Lack of immediate occupancy: The property cannot be moved into immediately, forcing buyers to rent elsewhere or maintain alternative living arrangements throughout the extended construction period.
Price positioning
?
- The asking price appears ambitious relative to standard residential dwelling values in the wider neighbourhood, largely because it heavily factors in substantial development land value and expired planning permissions rather than existing habitable floor space alone.
- Upward valuation signals stem from the generous site size and central village positioning, offering potential future development upside, whereas downward signals arise from the modest size and heavy refurbishment requirements of the existing outdated cottage structure.
- Such a strong pricing strategy could be supported by robust developer demand for prime infill sites with multi-unit potential, though it might be undermined by planning complexities, strict local zoning constraints, and uncertain construction cost inflation.
- Additional considerations include the lack of a current energy rating and the speculative nature of securing fresh planning consent, which introduces significant execution risk for prospective buyers aiming to maximize the site's commercial return.
Build Analysis
What we know from similar construction types
- The property is a detached cottage dating from the 1950s that is described as being in need of refurbishment.
- The listing notes a lapsed or expiring full planning permission (FPP) reference FCC Planning F15A/0317/E1 to build a two-storey house, expiring June 2026, which a buyer should verify with the local authority.
- The site size is stated as approximately 0.7 acres, with potential for multiple houses subject to obtaining fresh planning permission.
- The BER is listed as exempt or not provided, which is typical for older properties requiring extensive upgrade works or redevelopment.
- A buyer should investigate the exact status of the planning permission, site boundaries, connection to mains services, and the structural integrity of the existing 1950s cottage before proceeding.
Retrofit Cost*
Possible renovating / insulating expenditure
- A deep retrofit cost estimate is not applicable in the traditional sense because the property is an older 1950s cottage in need of substantial refurbishment or potential redevelopment rather than a standard D to G BER retrofit.
- If retaining and upgrading the existing 95 square metre cottage to modern energy efficiency standards, costs could range significantly depending on the extent of structural repairs, insulation, window replacements, and heating system installations required.
Heating cost*
Estimated expense to heat this property every year
- Estimated annual heating cost is not precisely determinable due to the lack of a current BER rating and the 1950s detached cottage requiring refurbishment.
- Given the 95 m² floor area and the property's condition, heating costs may be higher than average until energy efficiency upgrades are completed, potentially ranging from €1,500 to €2,500 per year depending on fuel type and usage.
Pollution Safe
9/10Environmental situation to investigate
Flood Safe
8/10Water overflow reports to follow up
- The property is situated within an established inland village setting rather than immediately adjacent to coastal flood zones, though local drainage should be checked.
- Prospective buyers should consult local authority flood maps and carry out standard environmental due diligence to verify surface water management.
Recent Local Sales
Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years
Sales on the same street or estate
No verified results were found for this group in the previous five years.
Recent sales in the wider Portmarnock area
29 SEAGRAVE, THE LINKS, PORTMARNOCK
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €365,000.00
2 CARRICKHILL WALK, PORTMARNOCK, CO DUBLIN
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €710,000.00
54 TORCAILL, PORTMARNOCK, DUBLIN
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €840,000.00
3 STRAND MILL AVENUE, PORTMARNOCK, CO DUBLIN
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €532,000.00
48 THE FAIRWAYS, SEABROOK MANOR, PORTMARNOCK
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €451,270.00
Source: Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Residential Property Price Register (PPR).
Matching uses address information published by the PPR rather than measured map distance. It may omit nearby properties on differently named streets.
Last Sale
A confidently matched previous PPR transaction for this property
No confidently matched previous sale was found in the Property Price Register.
Buyer fees*
Associated expenses guide
- Stamp duty: approximately 1% to 2% of the purchase price, estimated around €11,000 to €22,000.
- Solicitor legal fees: approximately €1,500 to €3,000 plus VAT and outlays.
- Land registration fees: approximately €400 to €800 depending on the property value and registration type.
- Property valuation fees: approximately €150 to €300 for mortgage or purchase valuation.
- Surveyor fees: approximately €500 to €1,200 depending on the depth of the structural survey required.
- Annual home insurance: approximately €400 to €900 depending on the level of cover and property location.
Forum Talk
What people are saying about this area
- Locals frequently discuss the charm and high demand of living in Portmarnock due to its coastal village feel and proximity to the beach.
- Development and planning applications in the heart of the village are common topics of community interest, particularly regarding infill housing and site potentials.
- Residents often highlight the convenience of local amenities, schools, and medical facilities within walking distance in the village center.
- Transport links, including the DART station and bus routes connecting to Dublin city center, are regularly discussed by commuters.
LifeFit Assessment
How well this property may suit your lifestyle
Family
7 areas- Young Children7/10
The property features a generous 0.7-acre site offering fantastic outdoor space for young children to play safely, though the existing 1950s cottage is in need of refurbishment.
- Teenagers6/10
Located in the heart of Portmarnock village with good local amenities, but the compact 95 m² floor area of the current cottage may feel cramped for a growing family.
- Multi-generational Living5/10
While the large 0.7-acre plot offers a development opportunity with expired FPP for a two-storey house, the existing 3-bed layout is modest and requires significant modernisation.
- Single Buyers4/10
Priced at €1,100,000 for a property in need of refurbishment, this may represent a high entry barrier and require substantial renovation budgets for a single buyer.
- Couples6/10
Offers great potential for couples willing to undertake a refurbishment or development project on a substantial site in a central village location.
- Empty Nesters6/10
The single-level cottage style is manageable in scale at 95 m², but the extensive grounds and refurbishment needs might require ongoing maintenance effort.
- Retirees6/10
The central location behind Kingsford Medical Centre in Portmarnock village is convenient, but buyers should investigate potential renovation requirements and future accessibility.
Work
3 areas- Remote Working7/10
The detached nature of the cottage and quiet site potential suit home working, though buyers should verify broadband connectivity speeds.
- Hybrid Commuting8/10
Portmarnock offers strong transport links for commuters accessing Dublin via road and rail networks.
- Retired7/10
Village amenities and medical facilities nearby support retirement living, subject to managing property refurbishment works.
Practical
8 areas- Ageing in Place7/10
The single-storey cottage layout is convenient for accessibility, though the property requires comprehensive refurbishment to meet modern standards.
- Low Maintenance3/10
As a 1950s cottage in need of refurbishment sitting on a 0.7-acre plot, maintenance requirements will be high initially.
- Secure Gated Entry4/10
The property features a private site setup, but buyers would likely need to install secure gates and fencing themselves.
- Minimalist Design4/10
The current 1950s structure reflects a traditional cottage layout rather than contemporary minimalist architecture.
- Flexible Floor Plans8/10
Given the refurbishment needs and the development potential on the 0.7-acre site, the floor plan offers immense flexibility for redesign.
- Heritage Home7/10
The structure dates back to the 1950s, giving it a traditional detached cottage character with potential for sympathetic restoration.
- Ecological Setup5/10
Energy efficiency and ecological setups would need to be entirely addressed during the required refurbishment of the 1950s building.
- Outdoor areas10/10
A standout feature of the property is its exceptionally large 0.7-acre site, offering vast outdoor space and future development possibilities.
Interests
9 areas- Gardening9/10
The substantial 0.7-acre site provides an exceptional canvas for keen gardeners to landscape and cultivate extensive outdoor grounds.
- Walking8/10
The central village location provides easy access to local walks, coastal paths, and neighborhood amenities.
- Gym6/10
Local amenities are accessible in the village, though buyers should verify the proximity of dedicated fitness facilities.
- Cycling7/10
The coastal location and village setting offer good local cycling routes, though traffic conditions in the area should be considered.
- Golf9/10
Portmarnock is internationally famous for its world-class golf links, making this an ideal location for golf enthusiasts.
- Fishing7/10
Proximity to the coast offers good opportunities for sea fishing and coastal angling pursuits.
- Horse Riding6/10
While the large site offers outdoor space, buyers should check for local equestrian centers and stables in the wider Fingal area.
- Water Sports8/10
Portmarnock's coastal positioning is well-suited for water sports enthusiasts interested in swimming, kite surfing, and sailing nearby.
- Entertaining8/10
The expansive 0.7-acre plot provides incredible potential for outdoor entertaining and garden parties once the property is upgraded.
Lifestyle
5 areas- Quiet Living6/10
Situated on a sizeable 0.7-acre plot providing a private setting, though it is located right in the heart of Portmarnock village.
- Rural Living3/10
Despite the large garden, this is an urban or village setting rather than rural, given its central position behind the medical centre.
- Village Living9/10
The property enjoys an excellent location right in the heart of Portmarnock village, with immediate access to local conveniences.
- Coastal Living8/10
Portmarnock is renowned for its coastal appeal and proximity to beaches, making this a strong location for coastal lifestyle enthusiasts.
- Urban Living5/10
Provides suburban village convenience rather than city-centre urban living, but offers good connectivity to the wider Dublin area.
Social
6 areas- Community Involvement8/10
Being positioned in the heart of Portmarnock village places residents right among the local community and established neighborhood groups.
- Café Culture7/10
Access to local village amenities ensures a reasonable level of local cafe and dining options.
- Nightlife5/10
Portmarnock is primarily a residential and coastal suburb, so extensive nightlife options would require travel into nearby towns or Dublin city.
- Health/Wellness groups8/10
Being located directly behind Kingsford Medical Centre and near coastal walking routes supports health and wellness activities.
- Networking Opportunities5/10
Primarily a residential village setting, meaning professional networking hubs are more limited locally.
- Tech-Hub Connectivity6/10
Reasonable proximity to Dublin's tech corridors, though remote connectivity should be independently verified by the buyer.
Listing information
- Agent
- Terry O'Reilly Auctioneers
- Phone
- 01 846 3859
- Published on HouseDelve
- 13 September 2026
- Correction
- Report an issue
HD-EA0D00HouseDelve · Republic of Ireland* Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.