Business

Merrion Property Group put 149-acre proposed golf course site outside Belfast on the market for £3.25m

Down Royal owner had tried to convince Balmoral Golf Club to relocate to the Drumbo estate

Tim Martin Estate Agents has announced that the 149-acre New Grove Estate, one of Northern Ireland’s most historic country estates, has gone on the market for an asking price of £3.25 million. The residential and agricultural property is located just six miles south of Belfast city centre on Ballylesson Road in Drumbo.
The 149-acre New Grove Estate in north Down is back on the market, with the Merrion Property Group seeking bids in excess of £3.25 million.
By Ryan McAleer

A Dublin property group which bought a 149-acre estate outside Belfast as part of a bid to relocate Balmoral Golf Club, has put the site up for sale.

Down Royal Racecourse and Down Royal Park Golf Course-owner Merrion Property Group paid just above the £2.1 million guide price for the New Grove Estate in Drumbo during 2020.

The group, owned by Dublin property developer Michael Roden, brought in Paul McGinley to design a new championship course as part of the efforts to convince members to back the plan to vacate the 75-acre Lisburn Road course.

The former Ryder Cup captain delivered a personal presentation to members in Belfast in March 2020.

The New Grove site lies just across the River Lagan from Malone Golf Club’s three golf courses, which span 330 acres.

But four years on, the entire New Grove estate is back on the market, with Merrion Property Group seeking bids in excess of £3.25m.

Located just six miles from the centre of Belfast, the estate includes a listed seven bedroom Georgian-period house, dating back to 1760.

The surrounding site comprises 126 acres of arable land, 14 acres of pasture and 7 acres of mixed woodland.

The Merrion Property Group is prepared to sell the asset either as whole or in three distinct lots.

Estate agent Tim Martin, who is overseeing the sale process, said: “New Grove Estate is a truly exceptional opportunity. It’s incredibly rare to find a property of this magnitude, steeped in history and located so close to Belfast.

The 149-acre New Grove Estate in north Down is back on the market, with the Merrion Property Group seeking bids in excess of £3.25 million.
The 149-acre New Grove Estate in north Down is back on the market, with the Merrion Property Group seeking bids in excess of £3.25 million.

“This estate not only offers a prestigious residence with unparalleled privacy and a breath-taking countryside setting, but it also presents immense potential for agricultural, residential, and development ventures.

“Whether you’re looking to preserve a piece of Northern Ireland’s heritage, create a luxurious private retreat, or invest in a versatile property with limitless possibilities, New Grove Estate stands in a class of its own.

“Opportunities like this simply don’t come around often, and we expect significant interest from both local and international buyers.”