Village homes from £147,950

With the number of new houses in Dunshaughlin capped for the moment because of inadequate sewerage facilities, there is likely to be lots of interest in 59 houses going on the market today in the Co Meath village.

Four-bedroom semis with a garage in the latest phase of the Maelduin scheme are priced from £147,950, while larger four-bedroom detached units will be available from £184,950, according to Padraig Sherry of local agents Sherry and Co.

Dunshaughlin is one of a number of Meath villages set to grow over the next few years once a proper sewerage scheme has been completed. But while the demand for new houses in Dunshaughlin has remained strong, there are indications that towns and villages in the north of the county are experiencing a slowdown in demand as commuters think twice about a daily journey of over one hour to Dublin.

Dunshaughlin's popularity has been strengthened by the opening of the new Navan road, which originally reduced commuting time to the city to about 20 minutes. However, the same journey is now frequently taking more than double that time in the busy periods because of the increased number of people commuting from Navan and other parts of the county.

House values have risen as rapidly in Dunshaughlin in recent years as in most other locations close to the city. When Woodgreen Developments launched Maelduin almost three years ago, four-bedroom semis cost £83,000. Today the same house is priced at £147,950. The larger detached version originally went on the market at £95,000 and is now costing £184,950.

Woodgreen had no difficulty in selling the first 59 houses in Maelduin and, even with the substantially higher prices, should do equally well with the 59 going on the market today. These homes will be located behind the main street of Dunshaughlin and will have direct access to the village.

It is undoubtedly a top notch development with a particularly high standard of finish and several extra features that are likely to appeal to buyers.

The four-bedroom detached home has oodles of space and three reception rooms. The livingroom is bright and cheerful and opens through double doors into a good-sized diningroom. On the opposite side of the hall there is a family room which is certain to be in constant use. The kitchen has an excellent range of wall and floor units and has a handy utility room off it. Surprisingly, all the bedrooms are well capable of taking double beds.

The four-bed semis have two reception rooms in much the same configuration as in the detached unit. The kitchen is also top class and has a door opening into an integrated garage which many families will undoubtedly convert into family rooms or playrooms.

Bedroom sizes are also generous, with three doubles and one single.