A new homes scheme in Malahide is using the holiday period to attract prospective buyers by taking the unusual step of launching over Christmas. Hollybrook at Robswall in Malahide will be showing three newly built four-bed family homes to viewers the Sunday after Christmas while a selection of two- and three- bed properties will be available to buy off plans.
It will be the first phase of 20 units in what will ultimately be a 150-unit scheme on nine acres of land originally owned by developer Gerry Gannon of Gannon Homes. The first phase is expected to be complete by summer 2015.
According to the selling agent for the scheme, Jackie Horan of Knight Frank New Homes, the register of interest has been building for the properties since work began in the summer. This prompted the decision to facilitate viewings when people are home from abroad and off work over the holiday period.
The site was part of a portfolio that included 85 existing properties bought in April for more than €36 million by London-based Development Securities. The development site was then sub-sold to Hollybrook Homes, a London-based development company with Irish directors Malcolm Weston and Kenneth Birrane.
All of the properties will be energy efficient A-rated luxury builds, with prices from €395,000 to €410,000 for the two-beds (86sq m/926sq ft), from €420,000 to €500,000 for the three-beds (104sq m /1,119sq ft-129sq m2/1,389sq ft) and from €630,000 to €815,000 for the four-beds (137sq m/1475sq ft-237sq m/2,551sq ft).
Quality finish
The houses will adhere to the latest building regulations resulting in generous floor spaces and a quality finish. Fitted kitchens come as standard with white goods including dishwasher, fridge-freezer and oven. The three- and four-bed units have separate utility rooms, and central heating is gas-fired. All of the properties are subject to a management fee of about €285 a year. The show homes have been stylishly staged for viewing by Arlene McIntyre of Ventura Design.
The original Robswall development, of which the Hollybrook scheme will be the final part, is regarded as one of the better large housing developments built in north Dublin over the past 15 years. Characterised by gently curving Georgian-style terraces, the well-built homes are on an elevated site off the coast road overlooking Dublin bay and next to a mature 90-acre public park presented to the local authority by Gannon Homes. That firm also developed Gannon Park sports grounds, while Malahide village is nearby.
Malahide is 16km from Dublin city centre. Robswall is serviced by a number of Dublin Bus routes and the Dart from Malahide takes about 25 minutes to reach the city centre. Dublin Airport is a 10-minute drive.
This is Hollybrook Homes’ first venture into the Irish market, though they have completed a number of developments and conversion projects around the UK.