Starter scheme in growing commuter town

Ratoath: from €204,950 Apartments and townhouses in a starter scheme in Ratoath hit the market this week, writes Jack Fagan

With Dublin house prices continuing on their upward spiral, first-time buyers are increasingly looking further afield where there is frequently much better value. An example of the competitive out-of-town prices on offer comes this weekend when a development of 55 apartments and townhouses is launched in the village of Ratoath on the Meath-Dublin border.

Large one-bedroom apartments in Corballis Demesne will be priced at €204,950, two-bedroom units are from €230,000, three-bed duplex units from €264,950 while three-bedroom townhouses are from €299,950.

Jane Monaghan of T&J Gavigan Real Estate in Navan says the homes are infinitely better value than anything on offer in the Dublin suburbs. The joint agents are Sherry FitzGerald Sherry in Dunshaughlin.

The marketing campaign for the scheme will be helped by the fact that buyers are opting for established locations with a range of services such as schools, shops and leisure facilities rather than going for sprawling suburban schemes with little or no facilities.

Ratoath is one of the most improved villages in the greater Dublin area and, with rapid population growth, will have a second primary school as well as a new second-level college opening next September. Also well advanced is a new roadway (Ashbourne bypass) which is expected to cut the present 20-minute drive from Ratoath to the city by half. Homes in the new development are expected to appeal to workers at Dublin Airport, also a 20-minute drive away.

The development of Ratoath has attracted a range of services and shopping facilities, including Tesco and Supervalu. There are larger shopping facilities within a 10-minute drive at the new Ashbourne Town Centre and a little further away at Blanchardstown.

As Corballis Demesne is on the edge of Ratoath, the developer, Walthill Properties, has set aside the front of the site for a 1,858sq m (20,000sq ft) retail facility that is expected to attract a convenience store, two restaurants, a bank and other facilities. Walthill, run by Eugene Renehan, is best remembered for its acclaimed conversion of the Georgian courtyard on the Headfort Estate in Kells, Co Meath.

Walthill is hoping for the same response to its Ratoath development after spending a small fortune on attractive fencing and equally impressive landscaping.

One of the show units is a three-bed duplex with 115.4sq m (1,243sq ft) of space and a price of €264,950. The layout by architects Niall D Brennan Associates works well with a stylish diningroom to the front opening into a well equipped kitchen complete with a stainless steel hood over the cooker.

The large entrance hall has a store and guest toilet off it and leads into the livingroom which extends the full width of the house. There is a private rear garden with wooden fencing.

All three bedrooms upstairs are doubles and the main one is en suite. Wardrobes are fitted by Cawleys. A nice touch is a balcony off the main bedroom to the front overlooking the public gardens.

Instead of providing the conventional outside steps up to the two-bedroom apartment on the second floor, Walthill has opted for an internal staircase, which enhances the appearance of the scheme. The result is a comfortable two-bedroom apartment with 78.5sq m (845sq ft) for €234,950. There is a combined livingroom/diningroom at the front and a kitchen area off it.

The room opens out on to a balcony at the front. To the rear there are two spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Also on show this weekend are one and two-bedroom apartments on the ground floor with large gardens wrapped around them. Both types are fitted out to a high standard. The one-beds have 48sq m (517sq ft) while the two-beds have 69sq m (743sq ft) including good storage space. There is also likely to be strong interest in the three-bed townhouses which have 105.9sq m (1,141sq ft) and are priced at €299,950.