A reason to be toffee nosed

Tommy Barker visits an estate within an estate in classy Clonmel.

CLONMEL has been waiting for years for a scheme like Parklands, say its promoters, so the only downside is the wet summer season chosen for its launch, and the dreaded ‘R’ for recession word hanging in the sultry July air.

The small development of 22 houses and four bungalows is in the former estate grounds of Glenconnor House, which itself dates to 1797, a Tipperary Georgian gem designed by Sir Richard Morrison, architect for Fota House, Carton House and Ballyfin.

Glenconnor House itself is associated with the Cleve family of toffee fame, and Clonmel bankers the Watsons, and it went up for auction last summer, guiding €1.8 million.

Architects for Parklands are Concept Design Partnership, based in Waterford. The scheme has six house types, done to a sort of ‘timeless elegance’ template inside and out, at least on the evidence of the completed showhouse and the specification sheet for the houses yet to come.

Selling agent Kate Curran of Moynihan Curran, based in Clonmel, raves about this offering. “Clonmel has needed houses of this standard, but no-one has provided them until now,” she comments of the scheme on the edge of the town, within the N24 boundary and near the Poppyfield Retail Park and South Tipperary general hospital.

A showhouse, and two three-bed gate-lodges have been built and as the project by developer Abbey Court Homes (based in Carrick on Suir) continues, sales have commenced, with one of the larger detached house types bought by a local woman.

Prices start at €495,000 for the smaller bungalows in phase one, where eight of the 26 homes will be built. The largest is priced at €800,000/€865,000, with five bedroom houses of 3,700 sq ft on offer.

The showhouse, just completed by Muse interiors of Kildare, is also for sale, priced at €905,000. It is a sizeable 3,680 sq ft four bed with three en suites, two formal reception rooms, a side sun rooms and a 33’ by 13’ family living/dining room off the Scavolini-fitted kitchen with branded appliances.

These houses are heavy on features and brand names such as the aforementioned Scavolin. They include Marvin windows, under-floor zoned heating, an central vacuum, pre-wiring for alarm and home entertainment, Duravai sanitary ware, and Grohe fittings, solar panels for hot water, and much more. Expect free hot water May to September, and 30 per cent to 40 per cent of demand in the winter months gratis.

For those who want to tweak things to their own tastes, the houses have sizeable €65,000 PC sums allowable. Many other builders might grant you €15k or so for discretionary spending.

Externally, the houses and conservatories have slate roofs, limestone sills and cobbled drives, rendered and painted walls, landscaped gardens and an option of detached double garages.

The target market is the person looking to trade up. Clonmel’s affluent hinterland includes numerous stud farms such as Coolmore and Ballydoyle, while Waterford, Cork, Kilkenny and Limerick are also within easy striking distance.