Distance to Dublin city centre: 35 kilometres
Connectivity: Commuter train to Dublin Pearse takes 52 mins, the Inter-City train takes about 40 minutes. Bus Éireann's 115 operates a 30-minute frequency bus service to Dublin's Custom House Quay. By car Dublin airport is a 40km, 35-minute drive, the M50 is 20 minutes and the Port Tunnel is 35 minutes.
Population: 6,093
In terms of development Co Kildare is one of the busiest counties within the commuter belt, with 57 active sites across the county, says Peter Minnock, director of services, planning and strategic development at Kildare County Council.
One of its main urban commutes is along the northwest regional commuter train line. With rising prices in Maynooth, a university town where home buyers with children tend to remain, house-hunters looking for value are moving out six kilometres to where Co Kildare borders Co Meath, on the 15th lock of the Royal Canal at Kilcock. Crucially, it remains within Irish Rail's short hop zone.
Its population in the 2011 census was 5,533 and that increased 9 per cent to 6,093 people in 2016, but its numbers had already increased 35 per cent between 2006 and 2011 and by 40 per cent from 2002 to 2006.
Train services are heavily trafficked but reliable. There is a new – albeit unconventional – proposed local access route. The Blue Way is a 6km cycle and walkway in the planning along the canal between Maynooth and Kilcock. “It offers a way for local people to commute, get exercise and not breathe in fumes while they’re doing it. It’s also a safe way for schoolkids to get to and from school and college, because schools traffic is one of the biggest causes of congestion.”
It may facilitate building estates with multiple pedestrian exits to provide short-cut access to direct school routes more efficiently .
Agents DNG are handling the sale of Fenton Green, a development of 63 houses and apartments on Church Street by Grandbrind, while agents Sherry FitzGerald will be launching about 35 properties at Ledwill Park for Glenveagh Homes in the coming weeks. A mix of two-bed terraced houses start from €275,000 up to €290,000 for end-of-terrace units, with three- and four-bed semis respectively from €325,000 and from €400,000.
Joint agents Hooke & MacDonald and Coonan New Homes is selling Millerstown for McGarrell Reilly, an estate with planning for 150 homes situated a 10-minute walk from the station. With about 40 sold to date, the agents are launching another 20 three-, four- and five-bed homes with prices ranging from €327,000 to €525,000.
