Mallow's Rose Hill brings rosy look to North Cork

Small window of opportunity to buy into phase three of A-rated Mallow development

Rose Hill, Mallow, Co Cork.

Mallow, North Cork
€375,000-390,000
Size	104 sq m - 109 sq m
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2-3
BER	A

Rose Hill, west of Mallow town, has housed dozens of first-time buyers since its official launch in 2023, but for those who missed out on the first 136 homes, there’s a small window of opportunity to buy into 65-unit phase three.

The bulk of the third tranche has already been bought off the plans, but there’s still about half a dozen left, all three-beds, all end-of-terrace, all slightly smaller house-types than some other semi-ds in the scheme.

They have all the hallmarks of the earlier phases — which is appropriate given the builder is Mallow-based Hallmark Developments — and these include that coveted “A” energy rating; underfloor heating on the ground floor; an air-to-water heating system; fitted sanitary ware, quality internal joinery (Mallow Joinery) and a PC sum (c€5,500-€7,000) towards the cost of a Celtic Interiors kitchen.

The development itself — designed by Cork architects Deady Gahan, who recently relocated from Little Island to an attractive city base at Thompson House on MacCurtain Street — is smartly presented, with a nice variation of house façades, including some attractive brickwork. At 10 minute uphill/downhill to Mallow train station, it’s a viable location for house hunters who commute to Cork city for a living, for whom travelling by rail is a cheaper option than daily city centre parking fees. There’s a creche in the development too, and Hallmark Developments director Kieran Flynn told the Irish Examiner this week that they are in discussions with interested parties about long term rent.

“Some parties who include creches in a development are looking at financial returns, but we are looking at what they add to a residential scheme,” said Mr Flynn, who earlier this week confirmed that the Hallmark Developments-linked Reside Group have acquired the former landmark Dulux Paints 14-acre site on the Commons Road, in Blackpool, for around €10m, with plans to eventually deliver up to 1,000 homes.

There’s still some way to go at the Rose Hill development, with two more phases in the pipeline, with apartments and duplexes planned for the final phase five.

In the meantime, if you have the interest and the finances (there are government schemes that can help, such as help-to-buy and first home scheme) you can pop along to a new end-of-terrace showhouse, next Saturday, September 5, (featured here) as Savills are hosting an open viewing (10am-12noon).

Savills New Homes selling agent Eoghan Maguire points out that two of the units still available have been finished in a manner that will facilitate an attic conversion.

“The attic trusses have been cut for conversion,” he says, adding that the builder demonstrated willingness to respond to buyer requests as the scheme unfolded, such as adding en suites in some of the smaller units, or doing some of the groundwork for attic conversions.

Guide prices for the remaining units start at €375,000. If the timing is wrong, Hallmark is due to launch the first phase of another new development, Castle Park Mallow, in the coming months.

VERDICT: Quality option for first time buyers and downsizers. Ideally located for anyone travelling regularly by rail to Cork city. Good price point for those starting out.