Knocklyon starter scheme with prices cut by 20%

DUBLIN 16: FROM €355,000First-time buyers will be to the fore when a new phase of 50 homes at Dalriada in Dublin 16 hit the market this week

FIFTY APARTMENTS, duplexes and houses at Ellier Developments' Dalriada scheme in Knocklyon, Dublin 16 go on sale this week with prices reduced by up to 20 per cent.

Dalriada is a scheme of 180 homes off the Ballycullen Road in Dublin 16. It is beside two other Ellier schemes - Hunterswood and Woodstown.

Twenty homes were sold in the first phase of the scheme at the end of 2006 and many of these buyers, predominantly first-time buyers and people trading up in the area, have already moved in.

A new phase of 50 units goes on sale this weekend. To coincide with the launch Sherry FitzGerald New Homes will be opening six show units on site. An additional three unfurnished units will also be available for a walk-around tour.

Located at the foothills of the Dublin mountains, this area of Dublin 16 has experienced significant residential development in the last few years. Aside from Ellier's two previous schemes, Dean Homes is undertaking the large Stocking Wood scheme up the road.

A new road is servicing the area - Stocking Avenue, which links Ballycullen Road with Stocking Lane in Rathfarnham. The area has proved popular with young buyers from the likes of Templeogue, Terenure and Rathfarnham who want to stay close to home but can't afford to buy into their native neighbourhood. On sale this weekend are two-bedroom own-door apartments, three-bedroom own-door duplexes and three and four-bedroom houses. Prices at Dalriada have been paired back from when they were first launched 18 months ago.

The two-bedroom apartments are all ground floor units and have two decent double bedrooms. The second bedroom is across the hall from the guest toilet, which has a shower, making it ideal for buyers who may need to rent out a room to help pay the mortgage.

These apartments have 73sq m (785sq ft) and are priced from €355,000, down from €399,000 in 2006. All apartments have a small terrace with enough room for a barbecue and a small table.

The three-bedroom duplexes are all above the two-bedroom apartments. They have a good layout with a large living area running the length of the unit. Double doors lead onto a decent terrace to the front of the building. Off to the right is a large galley kitchen. Upstairs there are two double bedrooms and one single. Prices for these units start at €399,000, down from €450,000.

The most expensive house for sale at Dalriada is a three-bedroom three-storey house, which is laid out over 124sq m (1,340sq ft). These cost from €510,000, down from €610,000. These houses have a good-sized kitchen and a generous utility room with a door out to the back garden.

There are two double bedrooms on the first floor. One of these is en suite and the other has a door leading into the main bathroom. The third floor is devoted to the main en suite bedroom.

Four-bedroom three-storey houses are priced from €460,000, down from €575,000. Although they are the same size as the larger three-bedroom three-storey houses they are not as well laid out.

The houses at Dalriada are well thought out. Where possible downstairs guest toilets have been plumbed for washing machines, kitchens have extra details such as pull-out larders and Ellier and their architects Paul Duignan and Associates have put a lot of thought into squeezing as many windows into the units as possible.

Standard features include Smarthomes technology, Rationel dark pine external doors and windows, high-gloss kitchens from QK Living, funky opaque glass sliding wardrobes and heated towel rails in bathrooms. Floor tiling in kitchens and bathrooms is not included.

A second entrance to the scheme is at Stocking Avenue, however the development is designed in two halves to prevent it becoming a traffic rat run.

Homes for sale in this phase will be ready for occupation between May and December, according to the selling agent.

FACTFILE

NAME:Dalriada

LOCATION:Knocklyon, Dublin 16

NUMBER OF HOUSES & APARTMENTS:50

PRICES:two-bed apartments from €355,000 (down from €399,000; three-bed duplexes from €399,000 (down from €450,000; four-bed houses from €460,000 (down from €575,000)

FEATURES:en suite bedrooms; smarthomes technology; Rationel pine external doors and windows; high-gloss kitchens

ARCHITECT:Paul Duignan and Associates

AGENT:Sherry FitzGerald New Homes

WEBSITE:www.sherryfitz.ie