Riverside, one of the first major housing estates of the season, goes on sale in Swords tomorrow with prices which the agent, Hamilton Osborne King, claims are the cheapest in Dublin. Starting at £133,950 and rising to £178,950, the first phase of 220 two-bedroom apartments, two and three-bedroom townhouses and three-bedroom semi-detached homes are expected to be built by the autumn.
Situated north of Swords and off the main Belfast Road - the hub of much of the new development in the area - there will be a total of 450 homes in this Albany Homes scheme when it is completed in mid-2002. The population of Swords currently stands at over 35,000 and is predicted to increase to 50,000 in the next 10 years given the amount of development planned for the area.
Housing schemes currently under construction close to the Riverside scheme include Applewood and Bride's Glen, of which the first phase was released in November. The green fields, which stretch as far as the eye can see from the Riverside showhouses, are earmarked for residential development over the coming years.
A proposed new development adjacent to Applewood is expected to have a supermarket, a medical centre, restaurant and office units.
Semi-detached three-bedroom houses make up about half of this phase of Riverside with the remainder being mostly townhouses and 16 apartments. Designed by architect Frank Elmes & Co, the homes are aimed at first-time buyers and young families and while they lack some of the flourishes of more expensive homes, they are generally well finished with quality fitted wardrobes and attractive fireplaces.
The 1,100 sq ft three-bedroom semidetached houses range in price from £172,950 to £178,950. While the internal layout is mostly traditional with a livingroom leading through double doors to a kitchen/breakfastroom with pine cupboards and patio doors to the rear garden, there are a few quirky features. These include the slightly angled design of the livingroom - a departure from the usual box-style format. The kitchen has a small utility archway with space for a washing machine.
Upstairs, the spacious main bedroom has two windows with views to the front and a shower en suite. The second bedroom is also a double and the third is a single room. All bedrooms have ample fitted wardrobe space.
The townhouses are built in groups of three, with the two-bedroom version in the centre and the three-bedroom units at either side. The two-bedroom townhouse is £145,950 and maximum use is made of the 800 sq ft floor area. The spacious living/diningroom has an attractive classic-style cream wood fireplace with black slate inset, patio doors to the rear and a substantial storage space. The kitchen to the right of the hall has an imposing white aluminium window with sills large enough to sit on and plenty of Shaker-style units with granite effect worktops.
Upstairs, the main bedroom has ample wardrobe space, and the second bedroom is a double. The main bathroom is of standard design.
The three-bed 900 sq ft townhouse is priced from £159,950 to £162,950 and also provides an alternative to the standard layout in that a galley kitchen with Shaker units is sandwiched between the diningroom to the front and the livingroom to the back. Double doors separate the kitchen and livingroom, which has an attractive teak fireplace.
The main bedroom runs the full width of the house and has a shower en suite. The second and third bedrooms would probably work better as single rooms.
The townhouses have a system of alleyways leading from the rear to the side of each row of three homes, designed so that residents in the middle townhouse do not have to drag rubbish bins through their house.
There is no showhouse for the 16 two-bedroom 720 sq ft apartments which are being sold off the plans and cost from £133,950£134,950. They will be built in four blocks.
Riverside is bound to attract interest from those employed in Swords and surrounding areas in companies which include Motorola, Hertz and Gateway. Dublin Airport alone employs over 14,000 people. Government tax incentives brought in under the last budget for those who rent rooms in their own home mean that purchasers can take advantage of the buoyant rental market.
Served by the 41C bus, Riverside is close to the M50. Swords village, which is a fifteen minute walk, has undergone a revamp in recent years including the addition of Fingal County Council's ultramodern glazed HQ and the narrowing of the main street to give it a village feel. The long main street is well served by restaurants, shops and bars. The new Pavilions shopping centre, which is to open in March, will have a multiplex cinema and more than 70 shops.
Albany Homes is also responsible for Blanchardstown Heath, Prospect Manor in Rathfarnham and Swords Demesne.
The showhouse is opening tomorrow at 12 p.m.
