Space wins over commute times at Maynooth scheme
Buyers are opting for more space over longer commutes as Carton Wood in Maynooth release a further 22 units this weekend,
CARTON Wood originally launched in November 2016, an unusual time of year for a new homes launch, but more common last year as developers held out for the budget and the widely expected measures it would deliver to encourage buyers.
At the time, 23 units came to market in the first part of this phase, this weekend sees the release of the second half of that phase, with a further 22 units coming to the market.
The development is a mixture of three-, four- and five-bedroom houses, with sizes from 97.3sqm–186sqm. This weekend’s launch includes three-, four- and five-bed semi-detached units and detached four- and five-bed houses, with a brand new four-bed semi-detached showhouse on view.
Of the original 23 units launched, all have sold. “Buyers so far have been predominantly local people,” says developer Anthony Neville. “Maynooth, Celbridge people, some people from the city moving out to Maynooth. A broad mix of demographic.”
The majority of units in the first phase were three-bed semi-detached units, which boast a spacious ground-floor living area. These proved particularly popular as starter homes for first-time buyers.
There has been a huge take-up by firsttime buyers on the help-to-buy scheme, Neville reports. There are only two threebeds as part of this launch, from €355,000, 117.5sqm, 18 four-beds, of which two are detached, from €460,000, 145sqm, and there are two five-bed detached houses from €505,000, 186sqm.
A number of the houses in this release are situated on corner plots, with large front and rear gardens.
The development is situated minutes from the Leixlip West exit of the N4, just past the gates to Carton House, and 950m from the main street.
Behind the development sits a row of fields, some of which will become playing pitches. Beyond these fields is the historic Carton Avenue, a famous tree-lined walkway into Maynooth, which can be accessed from the site.
Maynooth is connected by train to Connolly, a journey which takes about 30 minutes. Maynooth train station is five minutes from the site of Carton Wood. A bus to Merrion Square takes around 50 minutes, while a commute by car to the city centre is estimated to take about 50 minutes to an hour.
These homes come with gas boilers with zoned central heating, a choice of natural gas fires, bathroom fittings and cabinetry with tiling on bathroom and en suite walls. The new four-bed semi-detached showhouse features an attractive, stepped, layout plan in the large kitchen/dining living room, with the kitchen area overlooking the dining area, and a den/living room space set to the side of the room, rather than the space comprising one large box space.
“We purposely went after this sort of offering,” says Neville. “This is a big enough space that people with young children or older children can comfortably have a den area, a television area. You can be in the kitchen, you have the dining room, the kids can be doing their homework in the sitting room area. It’s a very liveable space, and then you still have, to call it in old terms, the good sitting room.”
As one would expect from a house in the commuter belt, where a potential distance to travel to work is countered against the ability to buy a larger home than one might afford in Dublin, these homes are roomy and spacious.
The entire back wall of the kitchen/ living/dining room is made of glass panels; windows opening from the dining area to a patio space, and floor-to-ceiling windows in the den area.
The showhouse includes glass panels in an interior wall of the separate living room, an option which allows for added light. These houses also include a large window on the landing return, again offering extra light. There are 9ft ceilings downstairs.
There is also a corner unit, with part of the house set at an angle, which offers a particularly large living room.
Attics in the three- and four-bed units can be future-proofed to various stages, with the developer offering several price points to take the space to a variety of stages of completion.
As a university town with good employment, Maynooth sustains a wide range of excellent facilities, including numerous sporting amenities, a good range of restaurants, pubs, shops and schools. Most major supermarkets have outlets here, and transport links are good. Maynooth Avenue, the Royal Canal banks, and Carton House, all provide picturesque options for walkers.
Viewing: Today, 2-4pm Agent: Savills (01) 618 1300