Lawns scheme ends uphill planning battle

THE planning battle to develop the Lawns in Castletownshend in West Cork was, appropriately, an uphill one, given the unique hillside character of this time-warped seaside village.

Castletownshend, which gallops down a precipitous, period home-lined hill to the sea, is one of the most picturesque and unspoiled villages on the Irish coastline.

Stone buildings, mullioned windows, the famous ‘Two Trees’ standing in the middle of the road (albeit sycamores re-planted in the 1980s, not the 1800s originals) and the sheer diversity of houses great and little add to its genuine charm.

The stories of Sommerville and Ross anchor the place firmly in both history and literature.

Coming through the gap, literally and metaphorically, is the 43-house development The Lawns, halved in scale from an original far-higher density proposed by Fleming Construction after appeal to An Bord Pleanala.

It is on a seven acre site, elevated and with slight harbour views: an adjacent property is called Sea Glimpse, and a sliver of views pertain here also.

The scheme, almost fully screened from the village as it is set behind 12’ high estate stone walls, is on the approach side of the village from Skibbereen, quite a few hundred yards from the start of the much photographed hill, but an internal walkway shortens the pedestrian route to gentrified Castltownshend’s centre.

House design is by Roderick Hogan Architects, who have come up with a broad mix of house styles and sizes, from two, three and four-bed homes to large five bed detached houses.

“Hardly any two houses will be identical, there’s great diversity, and the features include local stone walls and natural slate roofs,” says Pat Maguire of South Western Property Services in Skibbereen, acting jointly on sales with Niall Cahalane of Cahalane Skuse in Cork city, who is a local Castlehaven boy made good in the GAA firmaments.

Prices start from €195,000 for a two-bed terraced homes ranging from 700 to 900 sq ft, three-beds of 970 to 1,200 sq ft range from €260,000 to €290,000, four-beds pick up the running from €310,000 to €400,000, and five-beds are up another round notch from €400,000 to €500,000.

About 20% of the houses have to be sold for permanent occupation.

Around a dozen have found buyers already just as site works start, and most interest is coming from Cork city with wealthy professionals and the sailing set keen to find a berth here 60 miles from the city and airport, five miles from Skibbereen and an half an hour’s drive from Clonakilty.

There are beaches nearby at Sandycove, Castlehaven and Tragumna.

Also currently for sale with SWS is a small West Cork scheme of 15 homes to be built on the western side of Owenahincha, overlooking the Blue Flag beach. Prices start from €185,000, but average €200,000.