Wealthy Jersey-based property developer named as purchaser of Magee Barracks

Magee Barracks has been snapped up by Irish property developer David Kennedy for a fee of €8.2 million it has been revealed. The Kildare Town site has been unused for years now and was an area in which reports of anti-social behaviour were commonplace, but it was sold last year for well above its original €2 million guide price.

The Sunday Business Post today revealed that it was Kennedy, who is based in Jersey, bought the 50-acre site that attracted a huge amount of interest when it was on the market.

Having closed back in 1998 and became a dormant barracks, the site presented an excellent investment opportunity for developers to swoop on. Kildare County Council have been in pre-planning discussions with Mr Kennedy, but there is no indication as to what will be built in the area.

It is likely that some form of housing will be developed there, but locals are not keen on the entire site being dedicated to new residential blocks.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Suzanne Doyle was quoted in the Sunday Business Post article, saying; "Kildare is a small, pretty country town and if you're going to deliver high-density residential it has to have reasonable community and recreational supports."

Kennedy is the chief executive of London based property company Formation Group, where former Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, is the chairman.