New Homes: sites to behold for developers and buyers

Look around you. That parcel of land at the end of a terrace of houses; that detached house at the end of the street on its own grounds; that derelict former petrol station.

In a market that is still shy of large-scale new developments, infill developments are popping up around the city, as developers seek to take advantage of vacant sites in desired areas to build family homes.

In the current risk-averse environment, smaller sites allow developers to “put their toe in the water”, says agent Felicity Fox.

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The kitchen area in the Boulders development at Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire

“There is a huge appetite for smaller sites, to build five houses or so,” adding that as a result, the cost of sites is “rocketing, absolutely rocketing”.

On Rochestown Avenue, a 0.29 hectare site and property known as “Boulders” sold for €891,000 in August last year – now New Generation is building five large family homes on the site.

Nearby, Lucol Construction has built three houses on the site of the old Tonglegee house, built over three floors with 90ft gardens. The smallest house is 3,000sq ft, with a guide price of €875,000, rising to €975,000 for the largest. The builder is retaining the middle property.

And there are plenty of similar plans. In Rathmines, the Maxwell Limited Partnership has applied for planning permission to build on the former Winfield Motors Site, between numbers 14-20 Maxwell Road and Maxwell Lane.

It is hoping to build 14 houses: two four-bed four-storey; one three-bed two-storey; 10 three-bed three-storey and one two-bed three-storey unit.

In Rathfarnham, Cork developer NColl Construction is looking to redevelop the site Silveracre House on Sarah Curran Avenue.

It will build two new houses – one four-bed and one three- bed – on the existing protected structure, as well as four three- storey four-bed houses, all with private front and rear gardens. Meanwhile Cherangani at Talbot Bridge, Castleknock, Dublin 15, sold earlier this year for €620,000. It has planning permission for six detached four- bedroom houses.

It is not just appetite to build – there is significant demand for such properties, too, in well-established areas, where large-scale developments may no longer be feasible.

200 inquiries

In Ballinteer, Savills listed a CGI elevation of its Ludford Grove development of four semi-detached houses online earlier this year. Within a week, the agency had 100 inquiries, and 200 or so after two weeks.

David Browne, head of new homes with Savills, puts the interest down to the size of the properties.

“The beauty of it is that it is a good-looking development. People are seeing that the houses are over two floors, they are big, wide two-storey houses, which give a lovely feel,” he says.

“People will pay a premium for semi-detached houses. We’re definitely noticing a demand for quality. Today’s first-time buyer is much older and is quite specific about what they want. It is not just about getting on the ladder,” says Browne.

Fox agrees that the market wants a certain type of property. “Developers have to get real and have to build on what the market is demanding. We all know that family homes are in serious short supply, and so are good starter homes.”

However, planning authorities remain committed to higher-density housing.

In Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, for example, the general rule which is applied is for 35 residential units per hectare of land.

While a more sensitive approach may be taken with regards to infill developments in established suburbs, the council’s strategy is to “encourage densification of existing suburbs . . . for example by ‘infill’ housing.”

“It’s the great dilemma because the market doesn’t necessarily want it,” says estate agent Eoin O’Neill, who is selling the Boulders scheme, noting that “it would be very hard to get a scheme like Boulders again”.

Permission sought

In Milltown, Rocco Re, a company related to the Roche family’s investment company Woodford Capital Management, applied for permission on the 0.17 hectare Violet Farm site near the Churchfields development to demolish the existing house and build a terrace of six three-storey, four-bedroom houses.

However, Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown ruled that the development, “is not considered to be of a sufficiently high density as envisaged by the county development plan and ministerial guidelines at this location, which is within 700m of a public transport corridor [Luas] and a number of services including shopping, university and public open space”. The decision is now being appealed.

The solution may be to build narrower houses over several levels and duplex-style properties which will still give people the square footage they desire – and satisfy planning requirements.

Whether this is what homeowners desire today remains to be seen. SMALL SCHEMES: WHAT'S HAPPENING Ludford Grove Where: Ballinteer, Dublin 16 What: Development of four semi-detached houses (1,785-1,862sq ft) and one detached house off Old Ballinteer Road Selling agent: Savills Developer: Twinlite How much: late €600,000-early €700,000

Weavers Place Where: Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin

What: Three A-rated 3- and 4-bedroom homes ranging in size from 155.6sq m/ 1,675sq ft to 204.5sq m/2,201sq ft

Selling agent: Felicity Fox

Developer: Nextgen Construction

How much: Two houses have already been sold off plan; the third (approx 2,000sq ft) is due to launch quoting about €700,000

THe Gallops Where: Leopardstown, Dublin 18

What: Six detached houses; one two-bed bungalow, five three-bed two-storey houses

Developer: Park Developments

How much: TBC

Melfort

Where: Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin

What: One detached and seven terraced 2½-storey four-bedroom houses

Selling agent: Knight Frank

Developer: Degfont

How much: €665,000 for the mid-terrace, from €695,000 for the end of terrace and €775,000 for the detached home. Floor areas range from 164sq m -167sq m. Now viewing

Hillcrest

Where: Church Road, Stillorgan, Co Dublin

What: Two two-storey detached four-bedroom houses; two two-storey semi-detached three-bedroom

Developer: Brian M. Durkan & Co

How much: TBC

Dollymount Ave

Where: Clontarf, Dublin.

What: Construction of 12 three-storey semi-detached houses with second-floor terraces. Construction is expected to be under way through the second half of this year.

Developer: Knightsway

How much: TBC

Boulders

Where: Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin

What: Five large family homes on a mature site, four five-bed semi-detached houses, one detached four-bed. Sizes range from 2033sq ft/ 189sq m to 2,572sq ft/239 sq m

Selling agent: Eoin O’Neill Property Advisers

Developer: New Generation

How much: From €810,000-€910,000 should be completed “within weeks”.

120A and 120C Rochestown Ave

Where: Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin

What: Three detached A-rated four- and five-bed houses ranging from 277sq m to 325sq m and set behind electric gates

Selling agent: McMorrow Properties

Developer: Lucol Construction

How much: €875,000