THE OLD adage that size matters seems to be ringing true for the developers of the swish Shrewsbury Square apartment complex in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

The luxury development on Sandymount Avenue went to market last April with prices starting at €850,000 for two-bedroom apartments going up to €2.3 million for three-bed penthouses. Forty-one of the original 60 apartments have been sold and 29 owners are in residence.

Feedback at the time indicated that buyers (predominantly downsizers) were looking for larger units with three bedrooms and two reception rooms, explains Sebastian Devlin, half of the Woodgreen Property Partnership which he runs with Jonny Burns. Developer Woodgreen is seeking permission to amalgamate eight two-bedroom apartments to create four large three-bed units in a new block of apartments under construction. "In the market that's in it, we have to do what the buyer wants," he said.

People moving from houses with 3,000sq ft find a 1,000sq ft apartment very cramped, he explains. Buyers at the scheme included Gay Byrne and wealthy empty-nesters. A big selling point at the gated development has been the concierge service.