Beverley, a four-house scheme in Donnybrook, rises up over the hills

Standards set in Blackrock to be matched in Donnybrook, says Tommy Barker.

THE Irish housing market needs new stock, lots of it, and density schemes too, to tackle rising prices and soaring rents.

Developers Paul Forde and Tommy Murray of Citidwell have one such mid-density scheme soon to launch in southside Cork at Tramore Road, on the old Keatings bakery site where they are to build about 30 sizeable three-storey semis and townhouses to a homes-hungry market.

But, first, they are in the final finishing throes of a low density niche development of just four detached 1,600 sq ft houses at Citidella, on the city end of Cork’s Blackrock Road by Ashton (see interior pics here.)

These four (they launched here in December) all sold at prices averaging €520,000 via Sherry FitzGerald.

They seemed to be quite strongly priced back almost a year ago, but the market has clearly risen behind them, plus they come ready to move into, with flooring in place, decor done and dusted to buyer’s requirements, and they have wood-burning stoves allied to high air-tightness standards and air-to-water geo-thermal heating fitted, helping them to get to ‘A’ BER standards. They are quality homes, generously fitted out.

Now, those four Blackrock homes can be used to gauge the type of finishes and standards Citwell will deliver next, at Beverley, another four-house scheme, at Donnybrook Hill above Douglas.

Here, in the grounds of an older house, Citidwell are now on site (see pic, left) and at foundation level to construct four 2,010 sq ft four-bed, two-storey and double fronted homes.

In looks, and size, these Beverley buys are quite different to Citadella’s 1,600 sq ft offers, which their four beds over the top two floors of the narrower, three storey faux Victorians.

And, they are dearer too, priced from €570,000 Beverley’s four will eschew the period home look for 25% larger, and far wider homes with part-stone facades, and will have two of their four first floor bedrooms en suite, with two front reception rooms (one with bay window) and a wide kitchen/diner across the back, plus a utility and guest WC.

Sherry FitzGerald estate agent Ann O’Mahony says completion is scheduled for next summer, and one house, the dearest and on the largest site, is already sold.

Donnybrook Hill, Cork

€570,000

Sq m 187 (2,010 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 4

BER: A2/A3