Demesne garden homes from £150,000

One of the largest and most interesting apartment developments to come on the Dublin market this year - a major scheme planned for Santry, near Dublin Airport - is being launched from plans today, with prices ranging from £150,000 (€190,500) for one-bedroom units. Joint selling agents Ross McParland and Hooke & MacDonald will be selling from plans on the site of the Temple Gardens development in the grounds of Santry Demesne, off the old Airport Road. Those interested will be able to look over a two-bedroom show apartment and view a model of the scheme, which will be located on 140 acres of parkland, much of it with old and new woodlands. The gardens of Santry Court House, built in 1703, and renowned for their beauty, were meticulously planted with chestnut, oak, ash, beech and sycamore trees. The original temple folly in the gardens was a special feature of the demesne.

Of a total of 176 apartments in Temple Gardens, 75 have been pre-sold to buyers on a waiting list. These are mainly people from the surrounding area, both first-time buyers and retired couples trading down. The bulk of the 101 apartments on offer now are two-bedroom units. There are just five 550 sq ft onebedroom apartments from £150,000 available.

The specification and standard features at Temple Gardens will be impressive, according to the selling agents. Kitchens will have good quality maple Shaker-style units, with a built-in Neff oven, hob and extractor fan, a dishwasher and fridge-freezer included in the package. There will be wardrobes in all the bedrooms and mosaic wall-tiling in bathrooms and kitchens. There are 76 two-bedroom units available, offering 700 to 800 sq ft of living space, priced from £169,000 (€214,630). These will have a good wide hallway and a big open-plan sitting/dining/kitchen area. Double doors open on to a sit-out balcony. The two double bedrooms, one en suite, are compact but the bathrooms are larger than average and there is generous storage space. Ten three-bedroom apartments costingfrom £195,000 to £230,000 (€247,650-€292,100) average 950 sq ft. Also for sale are three two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom penthouses. The two-bed 1,200 sq ft penthouses cost from £285,000 (€361,950). Larger 1,230 sq ft three-bed penthouses start at £360,000 (€457,200). Larger balconies, more spacious accommodation and tree-top views are among the perks of living on the top floor.

Joint developers Morrison Homes and Woodford Developments have worked for five years on this scheme. Discussions took place with planning, architectural and environmental protection agencies to ensure the site was developed with sensitivity. The apartments will have access to private and shared landscaped areas and car-parking is included in the price.

A public park is to be established, accessed through the original estate entrance. The residential section will have a separate driveway at the opposite end of the site and offices will be built on a separate part of the estate. A hotel is also planned.

The restoration of the parkland involves the reinstatement of a temple and phoenix monument, the dredging and restoration of a large lake, the planting of 90,000 trees, and widening Santry river. A bridge is to be built and a sculpture trail and children's play area established. The boundary of adjacent Santry Stadium will be screened with greenery. The apartments should be ready to move into by April 2002, says Ken MacDonald of Hooke & MacDonald, and the entire site completed within two years.

Viewings are today, from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., Friday from 12 noon to 2.00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.