At Cobh, a development for the commuter, or first-time buyer

VERY competitive pricing, and a high-specification, mark out the Fleming Construction homes launched today in Cobh, Co Cork.

Prices for the houses in the first phase of the 250-house development Cooline are €30,000 to €40,000, cheaper than comparable new homes in the Great Island area, says Fleming company director Vincent O’Donovan.

They launch three showhouses this weekend from pm tpo 4.30pm on land they acquired from local sports club Cobh Ramblers. Coincidentally, this week Fleming Construction got the positive news that they’d successfully “found Nemo”.

They’ve acquired additional lands on the Douglas Road in Cork city, adjoining a site they bought from another sports group, GAA Nemo Rangers. They’ve now secured the next-door FCA site by tender for about €2 million, which will allow them vital access to the former Nemo pitches, for about 80 up-market homes. A new planning application for the Nemo site is expected.

Back in the commuter setting of Cobh, with rail, road and ferry commute options, Flemings’ product prices start at €280,000 for three-bed mid-townhouses of 960 sq ft, or €285,0000 for end ones, which is about €30k cheaper than other new three-beds locally.

“We’ve gone in very competitively for our first play here,” said Mr O’Donovan.

And four-bed semis of 1,380 sq ft start at €340,000, detached houses are €375,000 and several are already selling prior to the formal launch of Cooline, according to selling agents Brian Olden and Suzanne Tyrrell of Cohalan Downing.

“There’s hardly a four-bed trading up option being built anywhere else in Cobh and this is real value, that’s what is selling here first, ” says Ms Tyrrell.

Fleming’s pricing is deliberately assertive for a new market reality and are aimed at pushing through sales, encouraging buyers to get off the fence when they see the levels of specification and finish on offer for the money. Prices will definitely rise in further phases, said Mr O’Donovan of Flemings, who have just finished out their 700-house development at nearby Rushbrooke, which was started in 2000. Cooline is likely to take three to four years to complete and is about mile from the Cross River ferry service at Rushbrooke. Features of the houses at Cooline include Fleming’s Fusion steel frame construction with huge insulation values and comfort levels, condenser gas boiler for heating and wiring for TV, data and voice capabilities in all rooms.

Because much of the houses are effectively factory-manufactured, finish levels are very high with lots of finishing choices/options.

Fleming are also offering a €1,000 refund if contracts are signed unconditionally within three weeks of receipt of contract and, if a sale then closes within three weeks of a house being ready for snagging, a further €1,000 refund/price reduction will be made.