Birr: from €265,000Houses go on view this week in a scenic village on the outskirts of Birr, Co Offaly.

Riverstown is a popular angling spot, with antique shops, restaurants and the Little Brosna River dividing the village between counties Tipperary and Offaly - the houses for sale are on the Co Tipperary side of Riverstown.

The village is just under 3kms from the centre of Birr and 145kms from Dublin. Joint agents Mason Estates and Remax-Central Auctioneers are handling sales.

Thirty-nine houses are for sale in this phase of Farmleigh, with six house-types to choose from. Prices are affordable compared with properties within the city commuter belt and finish is impressive.

First-time buyers looking for a foothold in the market may decide to invest here and families could be tempted to move down from the city. FÁS is scheduled to relocate to Birr under the Government's decentralisation scheme.

Prices start at €265,000 for a three-bedroom terraced house of 106sq m (1,141sq ft). A four-bed semi-detached house of 116sq m (1,248sq ft) costs from €285,000. Another type of four-bed semi with 150sq m (1,612sq ft) of space is priced from €295,000.

Four-bedroom semis of 174sq m (1,870sq ft) start at €365,000. There are five four-bedroom detached houses of 214sq m (2,302sq ft) from €430,000. One five-bedroom detached house of 210sq m (2,264sq ft) is priced at €450,000.

This is the first major development for Co Wicklow-based Manning Residential and the firm has pulled out all the stops in terms of finish and build quality.

Natural slate roofs, leaded window canopies, sash windows and granite cills are included in the specification. Traditional street lighting and old-style railings are intended to evoke Birr's Georgian architecture.

Interiors include polished oak or walnut veneer doors, floor-to-ceiling tiling in bathrooms and fitted wardrobes.

Kitchens are Shaker-style or vanilla gloss. In addition, the houses have been fitted with an integrated entertainment and technology wiring system.

Gardens are provided and communal open areas will be landscaped on a parkland theme. Construction is under way, but completion dates are not set at this time. When the site is finished, there will be 71 houses in the entire development.