IT is rare enough for new apartment developments to come on the market in the Howth area of Dublin. For that reason alone, agents Douglas Newman Good are expecting an early sell-out of all 32 two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses in the first phase of a new scheme under way at Howth Road, between Sutton and Howth. The apartments will cost from £205,000 to £325,000. The Corr Castle development is being sold off the plans. There will be 85 apartments and eight houses. A scheme model and drawings will be on display at the Marine Hotel, Sutton, on Saturday and Sunday next.
Francis Rhatigan and Chris Jones of Ellier Developments have had to overcome considerable opposition from the planners before securing permission to proceed with what is likely to be one of the most stylish apartment schemes in north Dublin this year. The site is one of the best available on the Howth peninsula, an area which is unlikely to see much development in the future because of the granting of a Special Amenity Area Order over most of the adjoining land. The site backs on to Deer Park Golf Club and most of the residents will have superb views from the upper floors of either Burrow Beach or the coastline towards Dun Laoghaire.
The development has a considerably lower density than one would expect on a site of 7.8 acres but this will allow Ellier to landscape almost 2.5 acres of open grounds. Much of this space will be located around Corr Castle, a 16th century ruin which will form the centrepiece of the development. There are plans to restore and floodlight the castle, one of oldest buildings in the Howth area. Conor Gallagher of Douglas Newman Good says they have already received a considerable number of inquiries about the apartments from couples planning to trade down from large houses in the Howth area. There will be a great variety of prices and unit types to cater for a wide range of buyers. The apartments will be located in five four-storey blocks and the eight houses will be built in a distinctive crescent.
Most of the apartments will be two-bedroom units with large balconies averaging 19 ft by 7 ft which will make them ideal for al fresco dining. Prices will range from £205,000 for 850 sq ft up to £325,000 for a 1,250 sq ft unit. Bookings are also being taken at this stage for the first four penthouses, a unit of 1,200 sq ft costing £350,000; another with 1,450 sq ft and a price tag of £435,000 and two with 2,050 sq ft which are each priced at £600,000. For this money, residents will have quality homes with mountain and sea views. The eight three-storey houses will range in size from 2,300 to 2,500 sq ft and will be priced from £525,000 to £625,000. There will be conservatories wrapped around the rear of the houses and balconies at first floor level.
The agents say standard fittings will include kitchens designed by Arthur Bonnet; Icon bathroom suites and gas central heating. There will be a car-parking space per apartment and two for houses and penthouses.
