A new scheme of 17 detached three-bedroom houses is being launched this week in the village of Aughrim, Co Wicklow. Selling agent The Phillips Partnership is expecting interest to come either from first-time buyers drawn by the £127,500 starting price, or "empty nesters" trading down from larger properties in the city.

The location is idyllic, under a mile from the scenic village of Aughrim on the Arklow Road, overlooking the valley. The 47-mile journey to the city may discourage all but the most hardy commuters, despite the upgrading of the N11/ M11 motorway. On the plus side, the houses are all large at 1,300 sq ft and there is a thriving village community well catered for with schools, shops and sporting facilities.

The first six houses are being released this week priced from £127,500 to £132,500, depending on plot size. Viewing of the showhouse will begin on Sunday next and completion is due by spring 2000. The Millwood houses are three quarters brick to the front with two storey bay windows. There is a guest lavatory off the hallway, a bay-windowed sittingroom and double doors to the kitchen/diningroom. This has a feature breakfast bar and sliding doors to the garden. The three bedrooms upstairs are all doubles and the main room is en suite. A family bathroom and walk-in airing cupboard are also on the first floor. Unusual features include a tiled canopy over the front door, decorative barge timbers on the pointed gable and lead sash detail on the front windows. There are stone quoin at each side of the front elevation. Some of the houses have garage spaces and gardens will come top-soiled and seeded. There is a two-car cobblelock driveway to the front and an outside storeroom/boiler house.