You could live just up the hill from Cork city

JUST through the planning process practically unscathed, with just three houses knocked off the original 66 proposed, is a development of 63 city apartments, duplexes and townhouses above Patrick’s Hill in Cork.

The residential development, designed and promoted by the Hyde Partnership, is going to be aimed at the affordable end of the market with prices starting from just over 140,000.

The scheme is off Pope's Road, reached either from Richmond Hill/Patrick's Hill through Rathmore Estate, or from Pope's Road itself above the Watercourse Road.

Close by is Collins Barracks CBC's playing grounds, and there have been reports of further developments proposed by Cork City Council at the army's Camp Fields.

The site now to be developed is the grounds of the derelict and now vandalised Knockanuss House.

Estate agent Con Nagle of Global Properties was involved in the purchase of the site for developers the Hyde Partnership, who are also currently building in Douglas and who also designed and built the Watergold scheme in Douglas.

The original Knockanus House was owned by the late Dr Creedon, and was sold several years ago in a 1.2 million plus executor sale through Frank V Murphy and Co.

The site of three acres looks south and west over the Blackpool valley, with views of Shandon and the North Cathedral as well as Murphys Brewery.

The scheme will include one-bed apartments of 500 sq ft, two-bed duplexes of about 700 sq ft, and two- and three-bed townhouses of around 900 sq ft, likely to be priced around 180,000. The houses will have a particular appeal to first time buyers, given their relatively affordable price levels and proximity to the city centre which is within walking distance.

The newly developed Blackpool shopping centre is a bonus, and the Watercourse Road area with it new relief road is itself expected to provide a number of new residential development in the next few years as well.

Global Properties are handling inquiries, and can expect an immediate surge of interest.

The same selling agents are also about to launch as large residential scheme of 258 houses in Newtown, Cobh, for builders McInerneys.

The development, on a site of about 30 acres near Cobh Ramblers playing pitches, will have a mix of house types with three and four bed semis of 1,000 and 1,250 sq ft being released at 170,000 and 185,000.

"We're taking deposits already, with a small number sold and the builders will be going on site at Easter and prices are likely to rise after that," said Mr Nagle.