Room at the top for first-timers

Clonee: Penthouses in a new D15 development are the cheapest in Dublin. Kate McMorrow reports.

A development launching this weekend near Clonee in Dublin 15 introduces a new level of price competition into the new homes market. Menolly, the largest housebuilder in the greater Dublin area, will be selling large two-bedroom penthouses at Allendale Square from €252,950.

Measuring 106 sq m (1,140 sq ft) and with large balconies, these are easily the cheapest penthouses in Dublin. Working out at €2,378 per sq m (€221 per sq ft), they compare favourably in size with city centre penthouses, which cost around €10,764 per sq m (€1,000 per sq ft).

Sherry FitzGerald New Homes is taking bookings at its Donnybrook offices from today, prior to on-site viewing on Saturday and Sunday. First-time buyers will have a field day at Allendale Square, with one-bedroom apartments starting at €179,950. Two-bedroom apartments cost from €194,950, There are also 20 three-bedroom townhouses with decent gardens starting at €254,950. All 150 units are on offer this weekend.

Low prices have not affected the quality of the Menolly fit-out. Wall tiling is high-spec and small details such as door handles and ribbed skirtings are not skimped. Kitchen appliances, often included with new homes, are not standard items here however.

Superb landscaping is another commendable aspect of this new scheme. Menolly has planted extensively on the central green. The 10 part-brick blocks are grouped around a large central garden, with flower borders in front of each building. Some two-bedroom apartments have a curved bay which creates a bright dining alcove off the kitchen.

One-bedroom apartments have a bright open-plan sitting/diningroom with a timber fireplace. Glass doors open to a sit-out balcony. The kitchen, off the sittingroom, has cream-painted units. In the bedroom, there are wardrobes on both sides of the bed alcove.

Two-bedroom apartments have a larger open-plan living/dining/kitchen area, with either a dining alcove or small balcony at the kitchen end. Both bedrooms have wardrobes and there is an en suite shower room off the main bedroom. The 20 two-bedroom penthouses are the pièce de resistance at Allendale Square and are likely to be snapped up today by early buyers. With angled ceilings and multiple balconies, these bright airy apartments are a fantastic first-time buy.

There are two sizes of penthouse, with favoured larger units looking out over the landscaped green. In the open/plan sitting/diningroom, two sets of French doors open to generous roof-level balconies. The kitchen is off the living area.

The main bedroom opens onto two balconies, an en suite shower room and a fitted walk-in wardrobe. The second double bedroom includes a bank of fitted wardrobes and doors to a shared balcony.

Three-bedroom townhouses from €254,950 will be preferred by those who like their own front door. These have a conventional layout, with sittingroom to the front and a large kitchen/breakfastroom spanning the rear. Good-sized gardens, some with mature trees, are a good selling point and several end units have side access.

A bus terminus is outside the main entrance to the estate and Clonsilla train station is about 15 minutes' walk. A new road through the estate leading directly to Blanchardstown will be open in 2004.