Apartments in new suburb near park

Dublin 13: from €275,000Pared down prices in the latest phase of Belmayne should attract the first-time buyers, writes Property Editor Orna Mulcahy.

A new batch of apartments and duplexes aimed at first-time buyers go on sale today at Belmayne, near ClareHall shopping centre and opposite the new Hilton Hotel on Malahide Road, Dublin 13.

Last year buyers snapped up over 300 homes in the development - mostly terraced houses and duplexes set in individual squares leading off a wide central boulevard.

Show units designed by Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen and gardens by Diarmuid Gavin made it one of the most talked about launches of 2006.

Hooke & MacDonald is now taking bookings for 50 units in a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units in the next stage of the development. Prices start at €275,000 for one-bed apartments averaging 45sq m (480sq ft). Two-beds of 60-77sq m (645-825sq ft) cost from €315,000. Three-bedroom apartments and duplexes of 82-122sq m (880-1,310sq ft) are priced from €365,000.

With over 70 residents moved in, Belmayne is just beginning to happen as a neighbourhood. Eventually it will have 2,500 homes that will stretch from the Malahide Road to a vast open park with playing fields and its own wind farm.

The houses and apartments are being built in clusters around central green spaces, some of which have large and well equipped playgrounds. However, the units that are now going on the market will be built around a commercial square with shops, food stores and cafés. Developers Stanley Holdings and Donal Caulfield's LM Developments are putting on a big marketing push to attract twenty- and thirty-something buyers from the wider neighbourhood with risque advertisements that have caught the public imagination.

The trend for lifestyle advertising was set by Glenkerrin Homes at The Grange in Stillorgan, where billboards showing classy couples drinking wine and spearing asparagus led to strong sales.

Belmayne has taken it to a new a level, with its brooding bedroom scenes but there's no denying the energy coming out of the colourful, Aston Martin driving Caulfield, who worked for developer Michael Cotter before setting up on his own to build Meakstown in Finglas. He is building Belmayne in a joint venture with the Stanley family which has owned the land at Belmayne for many years.

When completed, the Belmayne development will include houses and apartments, a town square with shops, cafés, play areas, crèches, a library and community services, such as a medical centre.

The master plan for Belmayne is by McCrossan O'Rourke Manning and CPM Architects, and includes large apartments built over houses, and attractive corner units with winter garden style windows.

Standard features are plentiful, with a choice of three custom-designed kitchens supplied by McNally, quality tiling and smart fitted wardrobes. Wiring for an entertainment system and broadband will also be in place. Central heating is gas and each unit will be wired for a security alarm. Landscaping by Brady Shipman Martin promises to be high-spec.

The Mayne river borders the development on its northern side. Father Collins Park is undergoing a transformation as part of the plans for the area and will be a great amenity for Belmayne residents. An unusual feature of the park are wind power turbines and there will be 17 playing pitches, children's play areas, a running track and boating lake.