Nice price for first-timers in village scheme

Saggart/from €275,000: A second phase at a major scheme in Saggart is being launched today, writes Bernice Harrison.

The second phase of a major development, Millrace, in the village of Saggart, Co Dublin is for sale off the plans through Hooke & MacDonald with prices starting at €275,000 for two-bedroom apartments.

When Millrace is complete it will have 350 homes, a mixture of houses and apartments - the first phase of 150 units is already sold, mostly to first-time buyers and owner-occupiers. This second phase, made up of 30 houses and apartments, will be ready for occupation in December.

The location is within walking distance of the rapidly expanding Saggart village - something that has obvious appeal - while also having access to the city via the N7 or the M50.

The pricing is aimed at first-time buyers or, for the larger houses, for buyers trading up. The two-bedroom units of 62sq m (670sq ft) are from €275,000; three-bedroom duplexes with 100sq m (1,120sq ft) are from €350,000; three-bedroom townhouses with 90sq m (980sq ft) cost from €375,000; and the large four-bedroom plus study houses with 150sq m (1,650sq ft) are priced from €465,000.

Throughout, the specifications are at the more basic end of the scale; buyers, for example, are now used to seeing contemporary-style hardwood front doors, but Millrace homes have white uPVC front doors, or in kitchens, stone worktops are now becoming a standard feature where the ones here are veneer. Some, but not all bedrooms, have built-in wardrobes and storage in general is limited. The houses have back gardens and the apartment and duplexes have timber finished balconies.

The four-bedroom houses have the most interesting layout. As well as a good-sized eat-in kitchen downstairs, it also has a study to the front of the house.

Upstairs on the first floor, the livingroom is to the front and there is also a good-sized double bedroom with en suite and its own terrace and, on up again, there are three more bedrooms and, again, the largest one has an en suite and its own balcony. Despite their size, these four-beds won't attract stamp duty for owner-occupiers because of the site-to-value ratio.

The builder is William Neville and Sons who is also behind the Tullyvale development in Cabinteely on Dublin's southside. As Millrace is a large development that is only half complete, people buying off the plans would be well advised to closely look at the entire site to make sure they are getting exactly what they want. The show units will give buyers a good idea of what to expect from the individual units and these are open from today.