Large detached houses with huge family appeal are going on show for the first time this weekend near Clonee, Co Dublin.
Ongar, built in the lands of the former Ongar Stud, which was once owned by the Aly Khan, the four and five-bedroom houses are priced from £284,950 (#361,810) and £349,950 (#444,340). Hamilton Osborne King will be manning the two showhouses this weekend from noon and all next week.
Ongar Chase is located about a mile from Clonee on the Hansfield Road and 10 miles from the city via Blanchardstown. Developer Manor Park Homes will eventually build around 2,000 houses on the 166-acre site, creating a traditional village atmosphere to avoid the anonymous urban sprawl of other suburban schemes.
The estate will radiate outwards from a village square which, apart from a leisure centre and boutiques, will have a primary school (on a site already designated) and a purpose-built creche.
Ongar House, former home of the Aly Khan and film star Rita Hayworth, is to be restored and turned into an upmarket restaurant. A 20-acre park is also part of the project.
A private enclave of 108 large detached houses in a separate enclosure at the entrance to the estate are the first houses to be built in the planned new village. Thirty of these are on offer at this weekend's launch, divided evenly between four and five-bedroom homes. Finishing date for the first houses is September of this year. All house types have a large floored attic room which provides another 500 sq ft of accommodation.
Although there are just two sizes of houses in this phase, architect O'Mahony Pike has designed no less than eight styles of exteriors, alternating roof tiles and shades of brick to create a pleasing lack of uniformity. All the gardens will be fully landscaped.
Solid pine skirtings and doors, deep ceiling coving and good quality accessories are used throughout. Ceilings are higher than usual and a built-in vacuum system is provided in all of the houses.
The five-bedroom house-type, priced from £349,950 (#444,340) has two reception rooms on either side of an airy entrance hall, which is open to the upper floor. Both rooms have classic fireplaces with gas coal-effect fires. A bay window in the formal room is almost floor-to-ceiling.
The sittingroom is connected to a diningroom through pine double doors. Next to this is a magnificent kitchen/breakfastroom with maple units, granite worktops and a good utility room off it. A panelled staircase leads to five double bedrooms - some not huge, but all will fit a double bed with ease.
Stylish fitted wardrobes are standard and two of the rooms have an en suite shower. The upstairs floors are tongued and grooved, needing just a light paint wash. A Stira-type ladder accesses a large bright floored attic which would make an ideal games room or study.
The four-bedroom houses at over 1,840 sq ft (including the attic room) are just slightly smaller and cost from £284,950 (#361,810). They have two sittingrooms, a good diningroom and a fine oak kitchen/ breakfastroom with basket storage and a Belfast sink.
Two of the upstairs bedrooms are doubles and two are single rooms. The attic room is on a par with the larger house and the staircase is positioned for easy extension.
With 12 acres of public space, the development will blend well with the surrounding farm and woodland. Clonsilla rail station is about a mile from Ongar and Manor Park is hopeful that there will be a closer rail link to the city when the old Navan rail line, which once passed through the site, is eventually restored.
