Dundrum: from €315,000 Apartments go on sale today for the first time at Ballintyre, an upmarket development in the leafy grounds of a large house in Dundrum, Co Dublin. Show units are on view and Hamilton Osborne King will be accepting deposits from noon today.

The first 67 one, two and three-bedroom apartments will be on offer. Six three-bedroom penthouses are also for sale and a superb show apartment is open for viewing (prices on request and probably by negotiation).

Location and ease of access to the city has become a key factor for house hunters and this development, by Glenkerrin Homes, meets all the right criteria for south-side buyers.

Off Ballinteer Avenue, the site is a manageable walk to the new Dundrum Centre which opens its doors in early March. The Luas is also about 20 minutes walk and the backdrop of the Dublin foothills and city skyline is superb.

Given the top quality fit-out at Ballintyre - as good as those in the more expensive houses in phase one - prices are not at the lower end of the scale. However, sizes are generous and young professionals and locals who are downsizing will be strongly attracted by the entire package.

One-bedroom apartments range from €315,000 - €325,000 for 61 sq m (657 sq ft) of living space. There are three sizes of two-bedroom apartments, from 72 - 83 sq m (775 - 890 sq ft) and priced from €355,000 to €420,000.

Three-bed apartments of 97 sq m (1044 sq ft) on the second floor range from €435,000 to €470,000. Three 111 sq m (1,194 sq ft) penthouses will cost from €645,000. Six more luxurious penthouses not yet on the market with birds-eye views over the city will cost over €1 million.

Visitors will appreciate the seclusion afforded by the tall sycamore and chestnut trees which sheltered the original house and which have been preserved. When completed, the prime 25-acre site will house 300 apartments and 118 houses distributed throughout its landscaped grounds.

Good natural light from large windows and decent-sized sittingrooms are good selling points. Standards are high, with smart custom-designed kitchens, a full range of appliances and bathroom ware by Shires and Adagio. Most units have sit-out railed balconies.

Recessed lighting is included in entrance halls and the radiator here comes with a decorative cover. Fireplaces are either traditional stone or a contemporary steel and pebble design. Buyers can keep the attractive cream and grey wall tiling or accept an allowance and choose their own.

A typical two-bedroom apartment has an airy sitting/diningroom with picture windows looking out to the mountains or the city. Off this room, the kitchen is laid out in such a way that the working end is concealed from the main sitting area. A full range of integrated appliances is included.

Bedrooms, while not huge, will fit a double bed and include good quality wardrobes. An en suite shower is off the largest bedroom, with a cream-tiled family bathroom off the hall.

Three-bedroom apartments are very bright indeed, some with dual aspect and with modern steel fireplaces fitted into the chimney wall. Again, kitchen appliances are standard and some units have a kitchen window. Bathrooms have cream and grey wall tiling and a heated towel rail.

The three-bedroom penthouses are difficult to fault in their high specification and feeling of space and seclusion. A broad entrance lobby would fit bulky antique furniture with ease. Off this, the kitchen/breakfastroom is ballroom-sized, with grey granite worktops, an island unit and acres of steel and chrome. The sittingroom is another large room, with a French-style stone fireplace and doors to a balcony.

All three bedrooms have their own en suite bath or shower room - a walk-in dressingroom is included in a second double room. Bedroom one has walnut wardrobes with every conceivable hanging gadget. Ceilings are angled into the roof line and have great character.

Outside, landscaping is already under way and should be impressive, with new planting to augment existing trees. The old house, Ballintyre Hall, is to be restored and will probably end up housing apartments at a later date. Previous schemes by Glenkerrin include St Wolston's Abbey in Celbridge, Priory Gate in Naas and Liffey Hall in Newbridge.

Viewing at Ballintyre is today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon.