At the foothills of nature
Clay Farm, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 ASKING PRICE: €490,000–€620,000 AGENT: Savills (01) 6181300
WHEN Clay Farm, one of the largest housing developments to launch in Dublin 18 since The Gallops in Leopardstown in
1990, was released back in September, so many prospective buyers lined up for days to nab their house of choice that the selling agent had to issue tickets to prevent overnight queuing.
After more than 65 sales were notched up in the wake of the original launch, a new release from the first phase of the Ballyogan Road scheme is going on the market this weekend.
The south Co Dublin scheme is being built near the foothills of the Dublin Mountains by Park Developments, which also developed The Gallops across the road. The company, led by Michael Cotter, secured planning approval in 2016 for 163 houses and 262 apartments for the first phase of Clay Farm. In September, it submitted a planning application for 927 extra homes, under the Government’s new fast-track planning system for large scale housing, for a second phase located on the other side of the 14 acres designated as an on-site eco-parkland.
Under this new system, designed to tackle the housing crisis, developers can apply for planning directly to An Bord Pleanála, thereby by-passing local authority planning processes. However, in January, the planning authority refused Cotter’s firm Viscount Securities permission for the additional homes. Cotter’s firm is currently tweaking its planning for the 927 homes amid hopes it can plough ahead with construction, the selling agent for Clay Farm said.
The newest batch of 16 homes at the development comprises a variety of three and four-bed styles, ranging in size from 1,173 sq ft to 1,733 sq ft. Prices go from €490,000 to €620,000.
There are five house types available in the tranche, three from the three-bed Bilberry, Fern and Elder styles and two from the Orchid and Juniper four-bed designs.
The latest release includes a newly reconfigured Juniper style, which has been adapted — based on feedback from house-hunters — to incorporate an additional family room off the kitchen.
“There is a family room at the back of Orchid, and the Juniper had a dining room in the same space,” said selling agent Darren Clendennen. “But the comments we received were that buyers wanted a family room in the Juniper so they could keep an eye on young kids while they are in the kitchen.”
The revamped house type, which goes on show for the first time this weekend, is available as a mid-terrace, end-of-terrace, or semi-detached design.
There is a living room up front, overlooking a bay window, and to the rear there is an L-shaped kitchen/diner, with patio doors to the garden off the family seating area. A separate utility room and guest WC complete the downstairs accommodation. On the first floor, an ensuite bedroom overlooks another bay window and there are two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. The second floor is home to the master ensuite and its walk-in wardrobes.
The façade of each timber-framed property has a brick-and-render finish, with Tobermore permeable paving to the front driveway, where there is enough space for two cars. Inside, there is a custom-designed kitchen from Nolan Kitchens.
The A2/A3-rated homes have high-performance triple-glazed windows from Rationel, and have solar PV panels to generate electricity.
Clay Farm is a three-minute drive to the M50 ring road and 150m from the Leopardstown Valley Luas station.
Viewings take place tomorrow and Sunday, from 2pm to 4pm.