Main Street, Stranorlar, DonegalF93F2KD
Price on application
2 Bed~2 Bath~190 m²~BER F
What you'll like:
- Prominent Main Street Location: Situated directly on the N56 thoroughfare in Stranorlar, ensuring high visibility and steady foot traffic that benefits the ground-floor commercial unit.
- Substantial Floor Area: Offers a generous total size of approximately 190 square metres, providing ample space split across a retail floor and upper residential potential.
- Existing Commercial Tenant: The 90m2 ground-floor retail unit is currently occupied, providing an immediate and continuous stream of rental income for the new owner.
- Vacant Upper Floor: Features a substantial 100m2 first-floor accommodation that is vacant and ready for immediate planning, design, and residential conversion works.
- Town Centre Regeneration: Located in the heart of Stranorlar, supporting local demand for urban living and putting essential amenities right on the doorstep of future residents.
- Vacant Property Grant: Potential eligibility for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant of up to €50,000 to assist with heavy renovation and conversion expenses.
- Upper Shop Grant Potential: Possible access to the Vacant Above the Shop Grant offering up to €115,000, subject to specific scheme eligibility and formal local authority approval.
- Energy Upgrade Support: Buyers may leverage a variety of SEAI home energy upgrade grants to improve the current poor energy rating and lower long-term heating bills.
- High Traffic Volume: Benefits from weekday traffic volumes estimated between 8,692 and 11,416 vehicles daily, maximizing exposure for any retail or commercial operations.
- Strong Rental Demand: High demand for housing throughout the Stranorlar area indicates that completed upper-floor apartments will lease quickly to quality tenants.
- Mixed-Use Investment Profile: Combines commercial and residential elements under one roof, diversifying income streams and reducing vacancy risks for the overall property asset.
- Refurbishment Value Creation: Extensive square footage and grants present a clear path to adding substantial capital value through a well-executed modernization project.
- Strategic Donegal Hub: Positioned within a key regional thoroughfare linking major towns, enhancing the long-term commercial viability and strategic importance of the site.
- Independent Access Potential: The layout may allow for separate access to the upper floor, ensuring privacy and convenience for future residential tenants.
- Flexible Configuration Options: The sizable 100m2 first floor layout can be reconfigured into a spacious apartment or multiple units depending on local planning guidelines.
- Established Commercial Node: Surrounding businesses help drive consistent pedestrian and vehicular traffic past the front entrance throughout the standard business week.
- Government Scheme Alignment: The asset aligns well with national housing policy initiatives aimed at revitalising rural and regional town centres across Ireland.
- Future Capital Appreciation: Town centre properties with mixed-use flexibility typically experience solid long-term appreciation as regional infrastructure continues to evolve.
- Direct Roadway Access: Fronting directly onto a major national route ensures straightforward logistics, deliveries, and contractor access during any future construction phases.
- Blank Canvas Potential: The vacant first floor provides an uncompromised blank canvas for investors to design modern layouts tailored to contemporary tenant preferences.
But keep in mind:
- Poor Energy Rating: The building currently carries a low BER rating of F, indicating severe energy inefficiency and high thermal heat loss prior to upgrades.
- Extensive Renovation Required: The 100m2 upper floor requires comprehensive capital expenditure and structural refurbishment to bring it up to modern residential building standards.
- Grant Uncertainty Risks: Eligibility for grants like the €115,000 upper-shop scheme is subject to strict conditions and approval, meaning funds are not guaranteed.
- Commercial Lease Complications: Buyers must carefully review existing commercial lease terms on the ground floor to understand tenant rights, break clauses, and yields.
- Planning Permission Hurdles: Converting commercial upper floors into residential dwellings will require full planning permission, which involves time, fees, and regulatory risk.
- Traffic Noise and Emissions: High daily vehicle volumes passing the front door may create significant noise pollution and air quality concerns for upper-floor residents.
- Lack of Parking Facilities: The listing description omits dedicated parking spaces, which could pose a significant challenge for future residential or commercial occupants.
- Building Regulations Compliance: Bringing an older structure up to current fire safety, soundproofing, and insulation standards for apartments can trigger unexpected construction costs.
- Asbestos and Hazardous Materials: Given the age typical of such traditional town centre buildings, buyers should investigate the potential presence of asbestos or lead paint.
- Party Wall and Boundary Complexities: Sharing walls with adjacent town centre properties requires careful legal due diligence regarding maintenance obligations and structural rights.
- Uncertain Asking Price: The absence of a listed asking price makes initial financial modeling and budget preparation difficult without contacting the agent directly.
- Disruption During Construction: Carrying out major refurbishment on the first floor while the ground floor remains commercially active requires careful operational coordination.
- Utility Separation Costs: Separating electricity, water, and heating meters between the ground-floor retail unit and upper-floor residence can involve substantial utility charges.
- Wastewater and Drainage Checks: The existing municipal drainage and sewerage connections should be inspected to ensure capacity handles both commercial and new residential loads.
- Roof and Structural Condition: Buyers should commission a thorough structural survey to verify the integrity of the roof timbers, chimney stacks, and external walls.
- Fire Safety Requirements: Commercial-to-residential conversions often mandate expensive fire-rated partitioning and upgraded escape routes between the different building levels.
- Local Market Liquidity: Mixed-use commercial properties in rural regional towns can sometimes have longer resale periods compared to standard residential suburban homes.
- Management and Maintenance Burden: Managing a mixed-use building involves juggling commercial landlord duties alongside residential property standards and compliance rules.
- Potential Historic Restrictions: Depending on local town planning designations, exterior alterations to the prominent street-facing facade might face strict aesthetic controls.
- Contractor Availability: Securing reliable local builders and tradespeople for extensive town centre renovations in Donegal can sometimes lead to scheduling delays.
Build Analysis
What we know from similar construction types
- The property is a mixed-use building featuring a ground-floor retail unit (approx. 90m2) and a substantial vacant first-floor accommodation (approx. 100m2) with potential for residential redevelopment.
- The BER rating is F, indicating poor energy efficiency and significant thermal bridging, draughts, or lack of insulation.
- A buyer should investigate the structural integrity, roof condition, and dampness levels of the upper-floor accommodation, especially given its current vacant status.
- Verify the planning permission, fire safety compliance, and building regulations required for converting or reconfiguring the upper floor into residential town-centre living.
- Check the status and separate metering of utilities (water, electricity, waste) between the ground-floor commercial unit and the upper-floor residential space.
- Investigate acoustic insulation between the commercial retail unit and the proposed residential upper floor to meet modern building standards.
Retrofit Cost*
Possible renovating / insulating expenditure
- The property has an F BER rating, which triggers the deep-retrofit cost estimation requirement.
- A comprehensive deep retrofit for a 190 m2 mixed-use or multi-level building typically ranges from EUR 70,000 to EUR 110,000 or more, depending on the extent of structural insulation, window replacements, heating system upgrades (such as heat pumps), and ventilation improvements.
- Costs could be partially offset by available government grants such as the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, the Vacant Above the Shop Grant, and SEAI energy upgrade grants, subject to eligibility and formal approval.
Heating cost*
Estimated expense to heat this property every year
- Estimated annual heating cost: 3,500 euro to 5,000 euro.
- Explanation: The property has a poor BER rating of F and a relatively large total floor area of approximately 190 square metres (including the 100 square metre first-floor accommodation). Low energy efficiency and minimal heat retention typical of an F rating result in substantial space heating and energy consumption over the course of a year.
Pollution Safe
8/10Environmental situation to investigate
- The property is located in a standard mixed-use town centre environment without prominent heavy industrial plants or major modern waste incinerators immediately adjacent.
- Buyers should verify historical commercial uses on-site or legacy ground conditions as part of standard pre-purchase due diligence for older town centre buildings.
Flood Safe
6/10Water overflow reports to follow up
- Stranorlar has historical associations with fluvial and pluvial flood risks linked to the River Finn catchment area.
- A local flood relief scheme has been progressed for the Ballybofey-Stranorlar area, and buyers should consult specific local maps or specialist surveys to determine precise vulnerability.
Recent Local Sales
Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years
Sales on the same street or estate
MAIN STREET, STRANORLAR, CO DONEGAL
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €130,000.00
HIGHFIELD HOUSE, MAIN ST, STRANORLAR
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €155,000.00
WOODVALE, MAIN ST, STRANORLAR
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €455,000.00
NAOMH AINE, MAIN STREET, STRANORLAR
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €131,250.00
MAIN ST, STRANORLAR, DONEGAL
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €135,000.00
Recent sales in the wider Stranorlar area
FIR GROVE, STRANORLAR, DONEGAL
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €270,000.00
12 DRUMBOE COTTAGES, STRANORLAR, DONEGAL
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €146,000.00
14 ASH MEADOWS, STRANORLAR, DONEGAL
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €120,000.00
347 MEETINGHOUSE STREET, STRANORLAR, CO DONEGAL
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €85,000.00
DUNWILEY RD, STRANORLAR, LIFFORD
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €210,000.00
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: Varies by element because this is a mixed-use property; the residential component is generally charged at 1% on consideration up to 1 million euro, while the non-commercial/retail ground floor is charged at a flat 7.5% rate.
- Solicitor legal fees: Approximately 1,500 euro to 3,500 euro plus VAT for conveyancing services, depending on complexity.
- Land registration fees: Approximately 400 euro to 800 euro based on the property value and registration type.
- Property valuation fees: Approximately 150 euro to 300 euro if required for mortgage or financing purposes.
- Surveyor fees: Approximately 500 euro to 1,200 euro depending on the depth of the structural survey required for the mixed-use building.
- Annual home insurance: Approximately 400 euro to 900 euro per year depending on coverage levels and commercial inclusions.
Forum Talk
What people are saying about this area
- Local discussions highlight strong interest in rejuvenating vacant town centre spaces in Stranorlar and Ballybofey.
- Residents frequently discuss traffic volumes and congestion along the main thoroughfare (N56 / N15 route).
- There is active community commentary regarding ongoing government grants for vacant properties and above-shop refurbishments.
- Local groups monitor the progress of the joint Ballybofey-Stranorlar flood relief scheme to address historical river basin concerns.
LifeFit Assessment
How well this property may suit your lifestyle
Family
7 areas- Young Children3/10
The property is a mixed-use building on a busy main street with heavy traffic, making it less than ideal for young children due to the lack of a safe private garden and immediate road safety concerns.
- Teenagers5/10
Town centre location offers independence and proximity to local amenities, but the space requires heavy residential refurbishment before it is suitable for family living.
- Multi-generational Living4/10
While the total floor area is 190 m² across two floors, the layout is currently a mixed commercial and vacant upper space requiring reconfiguration to support multi-generational living.
- Single Buyers7/10
Presents an exciting project for single buyers looking to develop an apartment above a shop, potentially utilizing vacant property refurbishment grants.
- Couples7/10
An appealing commercial and residential investment opportunity for couples willing to take on a significant renovation project in the heart of the town.
- Empty Nesters4/10
The extensive renovation work required and stairs configuration make this less suited for empty nesters seeking an easy transition.
- Retirees3/10
A mixed-use property with a commercial ground floor and upper-floor living requiring complete redevelopment is generally not practical for retirees.
Work
3 areas- Remote Working6/10
The large first-floor area provides ample room to design a home office setup, provided high-speed broadband can be verified.
- Hybrid Commuting5/10
Positioned on the N56 thoroughfare with heavy traffic volumes, offering main road connectivity albeit with potential congestion.
- Retired3/10
Managing a mixed-use commercial building with an active retail ground floor and a dilapidated upper floor is demanding for retirees.
Practical
8 areas- Ageing in Place2/10
Two-story configuration with a street-level commercial unit and upper-floor accommodation requiring extensive renovation is poorly suited for ageing in place.
- Low Maintenance1/10
The property features a BER rating of F and requires major residential redevelopment and structural upgrades.
- Secure Gated Entry1/10
Directly opens onto a busy public main street with high traffic volumes and no gated perimeter.
- Minimalist Design3/10
Current structure is a traditional mixed-use commercial building requiring complete internal architectural overhaul.
- Flexible Floor Plans8/10
The 100m² vacant first floor and 90m² ground floor retail space offer immense flexibility for reconfiguration and residential conversion.
- Heritage Home3/10
Presents as a prominent commercial/residential town building rather than a protected historic heritage home.
- Ecological Setup2/10
Carries a poor BER rating of F, though buyers can investigate SEAI home energy upgrade grants to improve energy efficiency.
- Outdoor areas1/10
Lacks private outdoor gardens or amenity space, sitting directly on the street frontage.
Interests
9 areas- Gardening1/10
There is no mention of garden space associated with this town centre commercial and mixed-use property.
- Walking7/10
Town centre position allows for great walkability to local shops, services, and conveniences.
- Gym4/10
Proximity to commercial amenities depends on the local town offerings, but no dedicated fitness facilities are part of the property.
- Cycling5/10
Central location makes local cycling feasible, though heavy traffic on the main thoroughfare requires caution.
- Golf4/10
Standard accessibility to regional golf courses in County Donegal, though nothing uniquely tailored is attached.
- Fishing5/10
Donegal features notable angling spots in the wider region, though the property itself is strictly urban/town centre.
- Horse Riding3/10
A high-density main street location is unsuited for keeping horses or immediate equestrian access.
- Water Sports3/10
Located inland along a busy road, requiring travel to lakes or the coast for water sports.
- Entertaining5/10
The 100m² first floor offers potential space for future residential entertaining areas once fully refurbished.
Lifestyle
5 areas- Quiet Living2/10
Situated directly on Main Street with thousands of vehicles passing daily, resulting in significant street noise and hustle.
- Rural Living2/10
This is a prominent town centre, mixed-use commercial and residential setting rather than a rural environment.
- Village Living8/10
Located right in the heart of Stranorlar, offering direct access to local town and village amenities.
- Coastal Living2/10
Inland location in County Donegal with no immediate coastal proximity.
- Urban Living6/10
Provides a commercial and town-centre core living experience along a busy thoroughfare.
Social
6 areas- Community Involvement6/10
Being right on Main Street places you directly in the commercial and social fabric of the local community.
- Café Culture6/10
Town centre location places local shops and cafes within easy walking distance.
- Nightlife5/10
Proximity to town amenities brings potential access to local pubs and evening spots, alongside corresponding street activity.
- Health/Wellness groups4/10
Access to health groups relies on wider town facilities rather than onsite offerings.
- Networking Opportunities7/10
The ground-floor retail unit and high-traffic town location offer unique commercial visibility and networking potential.
- Tech-Hub Connectivity4/10
Buyers should verify local fiber broadband availability for high-level tech connectivity.
Listing information
- Agent
- Hills Property
- Phone
- 085 1773362
- Published on HouseDelve
- 1 September 2026
- Correction
- Report an issue
HD-6C4244HouseDelve · 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.