’Field of dreams for commuters
Clane, Co Kildare
Asking price: €307,500 to €485,000 Agent: Coonan New Homes
(01) 628 6128
ABBOTTFIELD, the name of a new scheme launching this weekend in Clane, is a nod to the Co Kildare town’s origins in the sixth century, when Saint Ailbe of Emly founded an abbey there.
Over the past two decades, the Liffeyside town has developed into a dormitory town for Dublin, which is 32km away.
Indeed, the three-bed houses that dominate Abbottfield will likely draw first-time buyers willing to put in a commute between Co Kildare and Dublin in exchange for more bang for their buck.
The development is located on the western edge of Clane, just off the Ballinagappa Road. It’s across the road from the College Wood Manor estate and beside Clane Rugby Club.
The first section of Abbottfield will comprise 46 three and four-bed houses arranged around open green spaces, and there is planning permission for apartwhere ments to be built on the land in the future. It is being developed by Westin Homes, which recently completed 50 homes at Oldtown Walk in Naas and is also building Inglenook Wood in the south Dublin suburb of Carrickmines.
The initial phase of Abbottfield going on the market tomorrow consists of 20 homes. Eighteen are three-bed semi-detached houses from the Orchard house type, with each spanning 1,200 sq ft and costing from €307,500.
For families trading up, there are two four-bed detached properties from the Meadow range in the tranche; this double-fronted style measures 1,951 sq ft and is priced from €485,000.
Externally, the block-built houses have a full-brick facade, using Ibstock’s Old World brick, and a pale green front door flanked by side glazing.
There is sandstone to the surrounds of the double-glazed, argon-filled PVC windows, and a render finish to the other exterior walls. To the back of each house is a patio area paved in silver granite and a garden that has been top-soiled and seeded with grass.
Inside the four-bed detached design, the hallway leads to a living room on one side, a fireplace with an electric fire acts as a focal point. To the rear of the house is a study that can could also be used as a playroom.
Off the other side of the hallway is a kitchen/diner with a separate utility room, with the dual-aspect dining area situated to the front of the house. There is a fitted kitchen and fitted storage units to the utility room. There is also a guest lavatory on the ground floor.
Upstairs, there are four double bedrooms, including a master ensuite with walk-in wardrobes and a family bathroom.
A second bedroom is also ensuite and there are fitted wardrobes to the bedrooms.
The bathrooms and ensuites come with sanitaryware, fittings, and tiling to the wet areas, though the floor tiles aren’t included in the price. Each ensuite has a large shower tray.
The houses were designed to achieve a BER of either an A2 or an A3, with the help of high-performance, low U-value windows and external doors and a natural ventilation system throughout each house.
For commuters who buy at Abbottfield, there is easy access to the M4 and M7 motorways, with Dublin city centre a 35-minute drive away when traffic is light. There is also a commuter rail service from the Sallins and Naas train station, which is 6km away from Clane, and bus routes served by Bus Éireann and private operators.
Viewings of the two showhouses at Abbottfield will take place from 2.30pm to 4pm tomorrow and Sunday.