Passing through Rathgar’s Orwell Park, one might experience a sense of déjà vu seeing armies of workmen, hoardings covering multimillion euro houses, a crane towering between Victorian houses and lines of vans and trucks parked on both sides of the street.
In the past four years, this premium residential road has experienced a huge turnover of housing stock, with 16 of the 48 large period and period-style houses fronting on to Orwell Park sold since June 2011. A number of these homes have already undergone huge refurbishments, and at present traffic on the street has been practically reduced to one lane with the flurry of activity caused by two new housing schemes under construction and the latest swathe of period homes receiving overhauls.
New Developments
Eugene Renehan was the first developer to start large-scale development on Orwell Park since Jimmy Bradbury's Orwell Bank townhouse development in 1991. In May 2005 he paid Mill Hill Missionaries a reported €30 million for a 3.9 acre site. By the demise of the property market, the majority of the site remained undeveloped, however he constructed three large neo-Victorian homes fronting onto Orwell Park and converted Dartry House, an original Victorian mansion, into seven luxury apartments.
For years, it seemed that nothing would ever be built again in post-boom Dublin, however Renehan was one of the first to restart development and in December 2012, a new phase of seven homes was launched off-plan. They were a sell-out, as were the second phase of 10 homes launched in late 2013. The most expensive house sold in this new scheme, Orwell Park Square, is 47 Orwell Park, a 248sq m detached new-build fronting on to Orwell Park, which achieved €1.5 million in 2014. Sales have not yet begun for the final phase, a courtyard style development at the rear of the site, however the selling agent, Sherry Fitzgerald, notes that buyers thus far have been a mix of young families, couples and locals – a number from the road – downsizing from larger properties.
Renehan isn't the only developer turning their attention back to Orwell Park now that prices have risen. Fiona Hanby, wife of solicitor Paul Hanby, has broken ground on an apartment and townhouse development at 59 Orwell Park. The one-acre site was formerly occupied by a small lodge house, which was demolished in recent years. In total the development will contain eight apartments, eight townhouses and 32 parking spaces.
The largest units will be duplex penthouses extending to 317sq m and 322sq m, each offering multiple reception rooms and four bedrooms. Both penthouses will rival their period Orwell Park neighbours in size and are likely to be the largest apartments in the area. Similar to the market for Renehan’s new development, the apartments will likely appeal to locals downsizing and young couples alike. Upon completion of Hanby and Renehan’s developments, Orwell Park will be home to approximately 185 private dwellings in total – a fourfold increase from the 45 period homes that once occupied the street before modern infill developments sprung up in the 1980s and 90s.
Old makes way for new
St Mary’s, 68 Orwell Park, was sold in 2012 for €1.55 million – €300,000 above the asking price. The buyers are a London-based couple who are currently renovating the house and extending it from 335sq m to 426sq m.
Three doors down, 65 Orwell Park was snapped up in December 2013 for €2.6 million. The purchasers moved the short distance from Leinster Road in Rathmines. Currently under construction, their plans for the house involve a small two-storey side extension and they are retaining most of the existing layout.
Across the street, Fernhurst, 14 Orwell Park, a grand detached late-Victorian house formerly owned by the composer Bill Whelan, sold in August 2014 for €3.795 million. Considered the crown jewel of Orwell Park by many, the imposing house offers an unusually wide site. While the interior was in good order, the new owners have chosen to completely gut and refurbish the house, but are not extending the 418sq m property.
Recently completed
Lisnoe, 58 Orwell Park, is the latest house to be unveiled having been extended to 434sq m and renovated throughout after it was acquired for €1.75 million in 2013. The result is truly stunning and the new owners have created one of the best homes on the street, with a superb south-facing rear garden and an extremely attractive façade. Tailteann, 20 Orwell Park, has also been given a major makeover, with a new extension and interior reconfiguration. It was purchased in 2012 for €1.35 million by a professional moving from Cowper Drive in Ranelagh.
Three neighbouring houses, numbers 27, 28 and 30/31 Orwell Park, were sold on the instruction of KPMG, receiver, in 2012 and 2013. Number 28, which was extended and refurbished to lavish standards by its previous owner, was purchased for €2.365 million by a buyer moving from nearby Milltown Path, Rathmines. Number 27, a similarly luxurious pile, was sold for €2.15 million, while Number 30/31 sold for €1.55 million as a shell requiring completion.
51 Orwell Park was bought for €2.4 million (plus VAT) in 2013 after the buyer sold his own home on Donnybrook’s Marlborough Road. Number 51 was completed by Walthill Properties in 2008 and originally marketed at prices as high as €7.5 million. The 482sq m neo-Victorian mansion offers period style with modern comforts and bespoke fittings, such as its Clive Christian kitchen.
For the most part, the lucky buyers of these fine residences have been young families trading up from smaller homes in the surrounding area, no doubt taking advantage of depressed property prices. While all of these properties are already large by any measure, buyers are extending for the provision of open-plan kitchen, living and diningrooms to the rear and, in general, are reconfiguring interior layouts to create additional bathrooms and dressing rooms on upper floors.
Future
The street’s transformation is extraordinary, with newcomers offering Orwell Park a fresh lease of life. The road will undoubtedly benefit from the latest round of renovations, with many homes formerly in bad states of repair now being restored to their former glory – ensuring they will continue in use as family homes for decades to come.
