Phase three of Castlethorn's popular Riverwood development on Carpenterstown Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15, is going on the marketplace this weekend, with almost half of the 80 houses sold prior to the launch. Three and four-bedroom semis from 1,050 to 1,340 sq ft will be available through Leahy Property Consultants priced from £137,000 to £172,000.
When first offered for sale in October 1996, the houses cost from £78,000 for a 980sq-ft three-bedroom semi. A depressing thought for all those first-time buyers who missed the chance to jump on the bandwagon back then. However, mortgage rates are considerably lower today and affordability should cushion the inevitable price rises. Castlethorn has gained a reputation as a quality builder with established estates such as Holmwood, Avoca and Carysfort on the company's portfolio. Riverwood was one of the first developments to introduce the so-called "Surrey-style" layout. The houses are set in winding cul-de-sacs and every second or third house is of a different design. A combination of red and yellow brick and pebble-dashed elevations, different house widths and some with main bedroom windows overhanging at the front combines to make a pleasing village-style setting. Of the approximately 450 houses planned for the entire development, 280 are already occupied and are maturing nicely. There are four different designs in this latest launch, all of which include landscaped front gardens as standard.
The Shackleton is a three-bedroom 1,050 sq ft semi-detached house priced at £137,000. This has been imaginatively designed with an extended L-shaped kitchen/ diningroom ideal as a family gathering place. The staircase is located off the sittingroom in the centre of the house, creating a split landing effect.
The Laidlaw, a larger three bedroom semi with 1,145 sq ft of accommodation, will cost £142,000. For an extra cost, purchasers can opt for wooden floors in the two reception rooms, which are connected by double doors. In the familysized kitchen/diningroom, there are handsome oak units positioned to separate the kitchen from the breakfast area. An upstairs bathroom is at the front of the house where the box room is usually located, leaving room for three good-sized bedrooms and a spacious landing.
All the houses have a utility room as standard and there is an en suite shower room in the main bedroom. The houses also come with fitted wardrobes.
The two four-bedroom house types on offer have an exceptionally spacious layout. The Somerton has 1,320 sq ft of space and is priced at £157,000, while the Iveagh is a wide-fronted design with 1,340 sq ft costing £172,000. Special features include clear bevelled glass front doors bringing natural light to the entrance hallway, and good-sized sitting and diningrooms suitable for entertaining. The diningroom has Rationale double doors out to a smallish back garden that is walled and fenced for privacy. The kitchen has pine units and a brightly-lit breakfast area.
AGENT Gerry Leahy is expecting this new phase of Riverwood to be a sellout because of the estate's proximity to an Arrow commuter rail station and the new Castleknock shopping centre. Another Castlethorn development, Beaumont Woods, on Dublin's northside, got off to a good start in 1999 with over 300 visitors to the site since the 9th January and eighteen units sold so far this year. Agent Hamilton Osborne King says there are nine houses remaining of phase two at September 1998 prices. Still available are a couple of two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows at £150,000, five three-bedroom semis at £163,950, one detached three-bedroom bungalow priced at £172,000 and one detached three-bed house at £181,950. An additional 30 houses are expected to be released next month in phase three of this development. Later in the year, Castlethorn will be launching 155 two and three-bedroom duplexes and townhouses built on the Beaumont Woods site and aimed at the first-time buyers' market. This separate development will have its own security gates and will be looked after by a management company.
Phase two of Beaumont Woods has attracted a number of investors, suggesting a resurgence of confidence in the new homes market in good letting areas. With second-hand three bedroom semis currently fetching £170,000 in nearby estates, appreciation in this area is guaranteed, according to agent Hamilton Osborne King.
