Bray houses ideal for trading up

Houses in Rectory Way, an in-fill development of eight large detached homes, go on sale this Saturday in Bray, Co Wicklow. The scheme is situated off Herbert Road, with prices ranging from £315,000 to £365,000, depending on size and site position. With an acute shortage of "trade-up" houses in Dublin's southern suburbs, the Bray scheme should attract a good level of interest.

The scheme is being handled by Valley Developments, the Durkan Group builders responsible for the King Edward Court townhouse/apartment scheme in Bray. The latest houses have been built on an elevated site overlooking the rooftops of the town and with clear views of Dalkey Island and the Sugarloaf. Access is via a private road which ends at the cul-de-sac development. This laneway is in the process of being upgraded as part of the landscaping, with pebbledash and stone walls and a tarmacadam surface. Street lighting will be installed.

Bray is gaining in popularity with city commuters. The DART is a huge attraction and both sea and mountains are on the doorstep. The Rectory Way scheme is located at the far end of Herbert Road, close to the N11 motorway.

All eight houses - one has been pre-sold - will be ready for occupation before Christmas. Exteriors are rendered and painted, with granite sills and front door overhang. There are five different house types to choose from and floor sizes are from 1,710 up to 2,100 sq ft.

Prices for the four 1,710 sq ft houses start at £315,000, or £325,000 for two similar units on larger plots. The smallest house has an unusual split-level ground floor layout. The diningroom has a couple of steps up to an intercommunicating sittingroom. This room is good-sized, with a French-style stone fireplace (fireplaces are not standard but the allowance is generous) and solid teak doors to an outside terrace.

A fitted maple kitchen leads through from the sittingroom. This features a hexagonal sun room/breakfast area with French doors to the garden. Off this, there is a large utility room and lavatory.

The four bedrooms upstairs are generous sizes. There are two good double rooms, with a twin shower in the en suite, a third small double bedroom and a single room. All have fitted wardrobes. A spacious family bathroom has a corner bath, standard silver grey and white tiling and recessed lighting.

The lofty nine foot ceilings in the reception areas give a feeling of great spaciousness. Handsome interiors, unusual layouts and top-of-the-range fittings will impress showhouse viewers.

There is one model available in a second house type, measuring 1,800 sq ft and costing £340,000. This has an open-plan sittingroom/diningroom off one side of the hallway and a large kitchen/family room leading out to the garden. Three double bedrooms and one single upstairs all have wardrobes and an en suite.

The largest house at 2,100 sq ft is also a one-off, priced at £365,000. This has an unusual, angled layout, with a large sittingroom/diningroom, separate family room and kitchen/ breakfastroom. Again, bedroom accommodation is generous and the specification is high, with solid timber windows and doors and good quality fittings.

Gardens are fenced and driveways cobblelocked.