Co Meath/from €249,995: A mix of three to five-bedroom houses in a new development in Ratoath, Co Meath are named after Irish Grand National winners. Rose Doyle reports
The first 50 houses in the Steeplechase development at Ratoath, Co Meath go on sale this weekend with the opening of seven showhouses, one for each of the different house styles in the scheme.
When completed, Steeplechase will have a total of 370 three, four and five-bedroom, terraced, semi-detached and detached homes. Built on what was once a dairy farm, Steeplechase is about 15 minutes' walk from the village of Ratoath and 15 miles from Dublin city centre.
Prices range from €249,995 for the three-bed townhouses and from €310,000 for the four-bed end-of-terrace units. The four-bed detached homes are priced from €380,000 and the five-bed detached units from €450,000.
The floor area in the smallest design measures 86 sq m (930 sq ft), four-bed end-of-terrace units have 116 sq m (1,250 sq ft) while the largest of the five-bedroom detached homes has 165 sq m (1,780 sq ft) of floor space.
The developers of Steeplechase are McGarrell Reilly Homes while the selling agents are Sherry FitzGerald New Homes and Property Partners Brady FitzGerald.
Thoughtful layout, the retention of old trees and Ronan MacDiarmada's landscaping has divided the development into three sections, each with a separate entrance but linked via pathways and green open spaces - the latter of considerable size. Stone pillars and railings form site boundaries.
A second phase of Steeplechase homes will be released later in the year and the remainder over what is expected to be a four-year building period.
A selection of three, four and five-bedroom houses are being launched this weekend. Special features in all include pine windows, German-made Alno fitted kitchens with space behind integrated doors for fridge/freezers and washer/dryers, fireplaces in timber or sandstone with working chimneys, mosaic wall-tiling in bathrooms and wheelchair access to guest toilets in hallways.
Each house type has been aptly named - given the proximity of Fairyhouse racecourse - after Irish Grand National winners such as Arkle and Omerta right back to Eglentine, which won in 1887.
A three-bed, mid-terrace house has a livingroom with a timber-surround fireplace, and a bright kitchen to the rear with a utility room off it.
There is a guest toilet in the entrance hallway, a main en suite bedroom and built-in wardrobes in all three bedrooms. Attic storage will come in handy for most families.
The other three houses in this range are a 116 sq m (1,250 sq ft) end-of-terrace which has four bedrooms; a 103 sq m (1,120 sq ft) end-of-terrace three-bedroom home; and an 86 sq m (930 sq ft) mid-terrace three-bed.
The five-bedroom house, the largest of the detached houses, has an interconnecting living and diningroom divided by double glass-panelled doors which have brushed brass handles.
A similar five-bedroom detached house has a floor area of 156 sq m (1,680 sq ft) and an L-shaped kitchen/breakfastroom with three windows and double glass doors to the rear garden. The smallest of the detached houses has a floor area of 124 sq m (1,340 sq ft).
All front gardens will be landscaped, all rear gardens grass seeded.
