Low density riverside scheme off to a strong start

FIONN Laoi, the new McInterney housing scheme in Ballincollig, Co Cork, had a very positive launch last Thursday.

And the reason has to be the low density of this riverside scheme.

There are just 135 houses planned on a 55-acre site on the Poulavone end of Ballincollig and it marks the first venture, (and a vote of confidence), in the town by McInerneys.

The national builders, who are more than 100 years in business, sold 8 out of 12 residential units released, over the weekend.

The official launch was held last Thursday at the company’s marketing office, (the former Moremiles premises at Poulavone), close to their Fionn Laoi scheme.

The planning includes a 27-acre amenity zone with playing pitches, all-weather pitches, tennis courts, basketball and clubhouse facilities.

A riverside walk, which would take in views of the upper Lee fields at Carrigrohane and the hills of Inniscarra, is planned for the perimeter of the site, which runs onto an oxbow bend on the Lee.

The company has only just broken ground on the Fionn Laoi site and it will be accessed via the Manor Hill estate: the company hopes to have showhouses up and running by June.

McInerney’s purchased the 55-acre site from Irish and European in late 2006 and is believed to have paid in the region of €17.4 million for the land, owned by the Corkery family of Poulavone House.

Unit sizes are very generous — the smallest three-bed semi starts at 1,307 sq ft, which is about 250 sq ft more than average.

There are larger three beds on offer at €340,000 for 1,377 sq ft and four-bed semis at €390,000 for 1,461 sq ft.

There are only four, detached four beds and they cost €540,000 for a 1,603 sq ft house.

The range includes two-bed apartment and three-bed duplexes from €270,000 to €315,000.

The selling agents for the houses are Irish and European, Global Properties and McInerney’s marketing department.