High-spec family homes near Malahide village
North Dublin’s property boom continues with this weekend’s launch in Malahide. Liadan Hynes reports
NORTH County Dublin is experiencing something of a new homes renaissance. Hot on the heels of their recent launches in Portmarnock, with St Marnock’s Bay, and Silverbanks in Baldoyle — both of which saw buyers queue for days in advance of viewings — this weekend Savills are bringing the remainder of Whitegables to the market. It’s a high-end development of 17 units within walking distance of Malahide village.
Originally launched in November, this development has already sold eight units.
“We’ve mostly had first-time buyers but we’ve also got people who are trading up, starting young families, and a good few people trading in the local area,” says builder Mark Elliott, who also lives in Malahide, of sales so far. “Trade-down buyers are looking for a smaller, more modern house in the same area that they are used to living in. With four bedrooms, though, it’s not a typical trade-down house — it’s more a family home.” These units have attracted a number of buyers from Swords who are moving into the area for the first time.
This release brings eight A3-rated semi-detached units and one detached unit to the market. The first buyers are expected to move in within weeks, with completion of the entire scheme due in May this year.
The layout of both styles is the same: 175sqm, set over three floors, with four good-sized double bedrooms. “We decided we were better off going with four good-sized bedrooms rather than trying to squeeze in a fifth,” says Elliott. Front gardens include cobble-locked driveways with space for two cars.
These are spacious homes, from the wide hallways on the ground floor to the large living rooms with box-bay windows. Downstairs also includes a storage cupboard and WC. The kitchen/dining/living room looks out over the gardens, which feature paved patios and seeded areas. Most of these units overlook a green area, so the gardens enjoy a level of privacy. A utility room with outside access leads off this room. Kitchens are fitted with Neff electrical appliances as standard, including oven, gas hob, fridge freezer and dishwasher. Floor tiling is standard in kitchens, utility rooms and downstairs WCs as per the show house.
The second floor comprises three double bedrooms, one of which is en-suite, and the main bathroom with contemporary sanitary ware. All bedrooms include fitted wardrobes as standard.
The master suite on the top floor is well thought out. A large landing area has been styled as a home office space.
Nowadays a home office requires little more than a desk space and room for some filing, and this sort of set up, located within the communal areas of the house, rather than shut away in a separate room, is popular with parents who wish to keep an eye on children.
“For a family with teenagers they might send them upstairs and they could use that as a study space,” Elliott points out. “We thought that the third floor should be a flexible space.” The master suite also includes a walk-in wardrobe space.
Whitegables is on the Swords Road, minutes from the entrance to Malahide Castle and within easy walking distance of the Dart and Malahide village.
Prices for these units start at €660,000 which, given the size and location, is a competitive starting price.
Also within the area, Sherry FitzGerald brings a further release in Belltree, Clongriffin from Gannon Homes this weekend — just off the Malahide Road.
This phase brings 30 new units to the market, a range of three-bedrooms from €315,000 and four-bedroom house styles from €335,000, varying in size from 112sqm to 135sqm.
Originally launched in autumn 2015, this development has seen sales of over 120 homes so far. Viewing at Whitegables: Today 1-3pm Agent: Savills (01) 617 1300 Viewing at Belltree: Today 2-4pm Agent: Sherry FitzGerald (01) 667 1888