Commuter belt shifts further south with Wicklow scheme

ARDSTONE HOMES, the developers behind this week’s launch of Ballinahinch in Ashford, Co Wicklow, are also the company behind Muileann, in Kinsealy, Co Dublin; Castle Farm and Furness Wood in Naas; and White Pines in Rathfarnham. As well as this weekend’s new development, they are expected to launch An Fuaran in Oranmore, Co Galway, later this year.

Situated between the Wicklow Mountains and the Irish Sea, three minutes’ drive east of Ashford village, Ballinahinch comprises a mixture of three-, four- and five-bedroom houses. Thirty-five homes are being released this weekend, with three-bedroom homes starting at €330,000, while four-bedroom units start at €375,000.

In total, the site will include 168 A-rated units on completion, both detached and semi-detached. Three fully furnished show homes are on view today, designed by interior designer Arlene McIntyre of Ventura. Three-bed semi-detached homes, approximately 105sqm, from €330,000, include living rooms to the front and open-plan kitchen/dining areas with utility rooms to the rear, opening on to rear gardens. Bedrooms are two doubles and one single.

Four-bed semi-detached houses are sized at approximately 118sqm, priced from €375,000, and include two double bedrooms and two single.

There are also a number of detached bungalows coming to the market as part of this development; three-bed units are approximately 113sqm, and four-bed units approximately 182sqm.

Six three-bed detached bungalows and one four-bed dormer bungalow are coming to the market as part of this first phase. Three-bed detached bungalows are priced from €385,000.

The four-bed detached bungalow is priced from €550,000. It includes an open-plan kitchen/ living/ dining area, an additional living room to the front of the house, one double bedroom with en suite on the ground floor, and two double bedrooms, as well as a single, on the upper level.

There will also be one five-bedroom, double-fronted detached unit as part of this launch. Two storeys, it extends to approximately 214sqm, with two living rooms as well as a sun room adjacent to the kitchen/dining area. This unit includes four double bedrooms, as well as one single, and is priced from €650,000.

Wicklow has lagged somewhat behind the rest of the commuter belt in terms of new homes. It faces challenges, with large parts of the county not suitable for building works given the terrain of the Wicklow Mountains.

Transport links for this site include the 133 and 133x bus routes to the city, the Dart from Greystones (15 minutes’ drive), and the train from Wicklow town (10 minutes’ drive) which has five services daily.

Launching this weekend, this first phase is due for completion by Easter. AGENT: Sherry FitzGerald (01) 667 1888 VIEWING: Today, 12-2pm