Make a clean break in first 12 homes of detached scheme

Rose Martin loves the attention to detail in this new Ballincollig estate.

BACK in 2004, a 30-acre holding at Lisheens, Ovens, sold for €9 million to O’Callaghan Properties.

And, for the last three years, Classes Developments, a subsidiary of OCP, have been through the planning process for permission to build a new, 250-unit estate on the outskirts of Ballincollig.

The first 12 houses of what will be a 60-unit, detached house scheme is now ready to go and show houses open today and tomorrow from 2pm to 4pm.

Mention Tanner Park and Westphalia and locals know immediately where the development is located — but for the Ballincollig-challenged, the property is accessed off the bypass at Killumney and is five minutes drive from the EMC plant, a major employer in the locality.

Hats off to O’Callaghan Properties for launching a scheme with an immaculate finish. The access road, (with impressive limestone pillars) has been power-hosed to perfection and for this time of year, it’s a completely mud-free zone. Aficionados of building sites will appreciate this attention to detail.

Also, they’ve completely finished 12 houses in Lisheen Fields, down to gardens and overall landscaping, so there are no half-finished builds in sight.

This is a detached-only development of 60 units that’s neatly segmented from ongoing work by trellising and a separate entrance. Move in here tomorrow and you’re guaranteed a normal, dry driveway — you won’t be living on a building site.

This neat, release approach is just one example of a more sophisticated way to market new properties, especially in light of the “market correction”.

Builders now have to work for their customers — and it shows. The level of finish, (if the showhouse at Lisheen Fields is anything to go by), is superb and PC sums for tiling, wardrobes, kitchens etc are very generous.

There are three main house types here and all are three-storey, a way of maximising on-site value, while at the same time giving high levels of space.

In a way, these are quite sophisticated houses and very well-suited to the trader-upper, particularly those with older children.

And, as there’s a huge demographic on the doorstep at Ballincollig, (population 18,000 and counting), there should be no shortage of movers for this first phase.

Prices are well pitched: they begin at €500,000 and rise to €530,000 and €560,000 for the largest house type, but then, bear in mind that PC sums can be as generous as €50,000 depending on house type.

Designed by PRC Architects to a muted, autumn palette, these houses are timber-framed and built by Cygnum, Macroom.

They come with high insulation on the inner core with another layer between the render and timber frame. According to Aidan Lucey of O’Callaghan Properties, the houses have a B1 rating, but depending on orientation, that could be higher.

The selling agent for Lisheen Fields is Frank Walsh of PropertyPartners O’Mahony Walsh, who feels the location and size of property will see a lot of interest from local buyers.

Three-bed semis are selling well in the area, he says, and with the level of amenities now on offer in the town, Ballincollig is a favoured place in which to live.

The development is directly across the road from OCP’s Classes Lake scheme and a retail development, with creche and medical centre is now up and running and a restaurant and garage/ convenience store is expected to open.

The interior design for the showhouse was completed by the in-house team at Keating Fitted Furniture and marks their first foray into this end of the commercial market. They have produced a contemporary, but luxurious look in the showhouse.

Also, the kitchens here are some of the most contemporary to be seen and although there is only one official showhouse, there are other unfurnished house types on display. This gives a very good idea of the range of wardrobes, tiling and other fittings available in the range and buyers can pick and choose as they like, says Frank Walsh.

The curtains and other soft furnishings and fittings were sourced from Interior Solutions in Carrigaline and they also provided the very fashion forward wallpaper — the most striking of which is the black embossed.

House type B is the largest, and more expensive of the three house types available here and it comes with just under 1,900 square feet of space.

Basically, it runs to two rooms deep all the way up, with an extension at ground-floor level for the kitchen area.

This projection allows a large, kitchen/dining room with an arch leading through the family room. The main sitting room (with a choice of understated fireplaces), is a good size and has a square bay projecting onto the front garden.

Each of the upper floors has two bedrooms apiece, with a main bathroom and en suite on floor one and two doubles with main bathroom on floor two: the ground floor has a guest bathroom and utility.

The layout of type A is slightly similar, but smaller at 1,677 square metres and this is priced at €530,000. The main difference here is the fully open-plan kitchen/ dining/ living room.

And the final house type is a great idea: it’s a bookend style and there are just two on offer in this phase.

Double-fronted, these two beauties are ideal for downsizers.

Yes, they do come with five bedrooms and a small warehouse of bathrooms, but then, they will accommodate the grown-up family at Christmas and holidays.

And they’re low-maintenance with a small site apiece, which means no mowing and very little weeding.

However, they look out on to the pristine, communal gardens of the estate and have a lot of privacy — and the price is right at €500,000 for 1,620 square feet.

And for those with less dosh, O’Callaghan Properties are also selling two-bed apartments in The Mews, Classes Lake for a very affordable €259,000.

Across the road from Lisheen Fields, O’Mahony Walsh are also agents for this integrated scheme.