One of the largest parcels of development land to come on the market in the greater Dublin area in recent years - the 233-acre estate known as The Demesne in Blessington, Co Wicklow - has been sold to a business consortium for over £15 million. Paul McDowell of Ganly Walters handled the sale. The new owners plan to provide a medium sized shopping centre and other town centre facilities on about 8.5 acres, part of which front on to the main street.

The shopping centre will have a supermarket of up to 30,000 sq ft and about 15 shop units. Other town centre developments will include 30,000 sq ft of offices, leisure facilities, building society and bank offices and a nursing home. Property adviser Bill Mulrooney, who is a member of the five-man consortium which also includes builder Brendan Fitzsimons, said Blessington was one of the few remaining satellite villages that had not yet been disturbed by the rush to build more houses.

The current population of 2,000 was projected to grow to between 5,000 and 6,000 over the next few years. The farm occupies a strategic position beside the village which is designated as a "prime growth area " under the Wicklow County Council draft development plan. Part of the plan was zoned for development under the 1996 Blessinton Development Plan. However, the plan was suspended by the High Court a year ago because Wicklow County Council had decided to rezone Glen Ding Wood to allow Roadstone to carry out quarrying. However, Ms Justice McGuinness ruled that her decision did not prevent the council from adopting a plan for the Blessington area. This is expected to happen in the coming months.

At least 62 acres of the land sold are expected to be zoned for housing, creating an opportunity for over 600 houses.

A density of 10 houses per acre was set through government policy now favours a higher density where all services are available. Because Blessington is within 20 miles of Dublin city and 13 miles of the new Tallaght Hospital, Bill Mulrooney says it is within easy commuting distance of major urban areas.

The sale included a three-storey Georgian house, which has extensive frontage on to the central square in Blessington village. There is a dairy yard with a range of outbuildings behind the house. A second yard is located on the southern boundary of the lands.