Village homes from £177,500

A tiny village on the edge of the Naas dual carriageway in Co Kildare is undergoing major changes with the development of its first housing scheme for over two decades. About half of the 66 four and five-bedroom detached houses being released for sale today in Johnstown are aimed at the upper end of the market. Most of them are likely to be bought by Dublin commuters, now that the village is a fast 18-mile run along the N7 to O'Connell Street.

Four bedroom detached houses in the Johnstown Manor scheme will cost from £177,500 to £187,000, while large five-bedroom detached family homes will range from £235,000 to £245,000, according to joint selling agents Hooke and MacDonald and Coonan Auctioneers. The rezoning of the land for close to 100 houses will almost double the 200-strong population of Johnstown. The village is best known to passing motorists by its high profile garden centre on the side of the dual carriageway. Behind it there is an enchanting little village which dates back to the 17th century, when it formed part of the estate of the Earl of Mayo. Some of the original three-storey buildings are used as a bar and restaurant. The local Church of Ireland church has been closed for many years and up to now there has been no need for a national school. Johnstown's residents rely for their needs on Naas, a vibrant country town less than two miles away.

Johnstown Manor is being built by Lark Development, which has handled many notable schemes but has been out of the Dublin housing market for about four years as it concentrated on its industrial development interests. However, Lark will be remembered for a list of schemes including St John's Wood in Clontarf, Kenmare House in North Great Georges Street and The Maltings in Bray. The Johnstown scheme is one of its best and is enhanced by a low density layout, well back from the busy road.

The top-of-the-range five-bedroom detached showhouse is particularly spacious by Dublin standards, having a floor area of 2,000 sq ft including an integrated garage. Rooms are unfussy but oozing with luxury. The practical layout and the use of identical pine wood in doors and staircase give the house a solid, traditional feel.

There are double doors leading from the hall into a huge livingroom with striking bay windows and an attractive fireplace. Two similar doors open to the diningroom which has sliding doors out on to a rear patio. On the opposite side of the hall, there is a cosy TV room. Family life is still likely to revolve around the kitchen/breakfastroom, which measures 16 ft 9 inches by 11 ft 4 inches. It's a lovely bright room with two windows and plenty of space for dining. There is a good-sized utility room off the kitchen and a door leading into the garage. All five bedrooms are off a good-sized landing, four of them are doubles and two of them have en suite shower rooms. The house has spacious gardens front and rear - something that is likely to become a rarity in the new era of high density developments.

Lark is also opening a four-bedroom detached showhouse today which has a floor area of 1,510 sq ft. It also has three reception rooms and a modern, functional-style which will appeal to many families. Once again there is a great livingoom with double doors opening into the diningroom. The kitchen is also an exceptional feature. Nothing has been spared to make it one of the best offered in a new housing scheme. There is a range of high quality wall and floor units on either side of a stainless steel hood. The kitchen has plenty of room to double as a breakfastroom and a side door that will come in handy for families with children. Three of the bedrooms are doubles, the other is a single and the main bedroom comes with an en suite shower room.