Coastal living with an easy commute in Greystones
Around 3,500 people came to view the launch of Marina Village Greystones. Liadan Hynes reports
‘It’s an overused word but the Marina Village at Greystones is ‘unique’. It’s the only marina in Ireland that is planned so it’s not going to repeat in terms of its rarity,” reflects Ivan Gaine, head of new homes at Sherry FitzGerald, of last weekend’s launch of the Marina Village, the first new homes launch of the season.
“Greystones and the broader catchment have been waiting for this for an incredibly long time.” The project hasn’t been without its challenges, Gaine acknowledges, but the launch was “literally our day in the sun, after a lot of people having to put up with a lot of uncertainty for a long time”.
Approximately 3,500 people attended the viewings over the course of the weekend, with huge interest from both buyers and sightseers. The first phase of 39 units saw sales of 27 units so far, including six of the seven Tuskar units — the four- and five-beds which come to the market at prices from €695,000. The buyer profile last weekend, according to Gaine, was predominantly from down-sizers for whom the proximity to the marina is appealing, and those trading up to a second, larger family home. The initial phase brings mostly four- and five-bedroom homes to the market from €485,000. There will be approximately 358 units in the completed scheme: 158 houses, a mixture of four- and five-bedroom units, and approximately 200 apartments of one-, two- and three-bedrooms, which will sit above ground-floor retail units.
Bridgedale Homes is the builder responsible for the residential aspect of the Marina Village Greystones — a hugely ambitious and controversial PPP (public private partnership). The project, which is the largest marine works since the construction of Dun Laoghaire pier in Victorian times, has seen a wholesale overhaul of the area, with the construction of a new harbour with north and south piers and a marina.
The rejuvenation works have also added a boardwalk, large town plaza, five clubhouses, fishermen’s stores and breakwater constructions. Stephen Garvey of Bridgedale Homes says that the public infrastructure aspect of the project was started before the residential side in an effort to assuage the residents’ concerns about the overhaul. They will benefit from, amongst other aspects, the new town square and 14 acre public park which will be included in the final project.
A PPP project with a residential element can mean access to the type of land that only state authorities would be likely to own; most of this land was owned by Wicklow County Council. It is highly unusual to see such a sizeable new homes development literally on the waterside in one of South County Dublin’s most prestigious villages.
Work on the next phase will begin next year. A waiting list has already been opened and Garvey says the apartments have received as much, if not more, interest than the houses.
There are two styles of four-bedroom semi: mid-terrace and end-of-terrace units and all are A-rated with fitted kitchens and Siemens appliances as standard. There are a handful of three-bedroom homes on corner sites.
The Marina is Greystones’ second big new homes launch in recent months: SeaGreen launched earlier this year with the first phase of 20 homes in a scheme that will eventually number 180 houses at prices ranging from €395,000 to €595,000. Like that development, the Marina Village is expected to see a huge take-up from Greystones locals.
In fact, Greystones has been transformed over the last 15 years from a quiet country town to a bustling spot. The Dart and express buses mean that Dublin city centre is an easy commute, while the M50 is 20 minutes’ drive away. Address: Marina Village Greystones, Co Wicklow Viewing: Today, 2-5pm Agent: Sherry FitzGerald (01) 667 1888