Agree with both posts above.
The pedestrian route is noted in all of the plans as "possible future". There are 4 pages of documents on the coco site and they are not easy to decipher. They continually mention 53 apartments but the plans show that's in 1 block only. Half the access is on private DM land and half on the currently private HPland. It's up to the council to decide how it's used and I doubt either will get a choice.
I'm surprised by the "antisocial" comments. This is probably one of the safest, quietest areas in North/West Dublin with an exceptionally low crime rate. Probably better than even Malahide/Clontarf. Castleknock (incl Carpentrrstown, LL and now Diswellstown) is the only town land in Dublin without corporation housing (even ballsbridge, blackrock etc has some) The kids I meet of all ages are really well behaved. Once the areas to the south of DM are complete (all zoned already) I doubt it will be any different. It's not "gated" so anybody can walk in. Once the last unit transfers from the developer the insurers usually capitalise on this as the estate will need open/public liability insurance of its own. So if little Billy is climbing a tree and falls, breaking a leg, he can claim off the estates insurance. Irelands MUD act is terrible and it's generally unfair on residents imo. It's why you see "no ball games", "no skateboarding" signs in all of them....the residents have to take the liability that a member of the public strolls in and hurts themselves - it's unfair. Schools are very well protected by monitored systems, the apartments will be self contained MUD act land also so will most likely have cameras etc... too. I don't think the gate would be an issue. The beeches area would be darker and more quiet etc... but there is no antisocial behaviour in the area generally.
The current ones in HP are really ugly but the colours were forced by the coco. They wouldn't allow red brick. They also wouldn't allow full red bricks to face the main road etc...All buying in HP were made aware of them and they could be seen by those purchasing houses to the north already so there were no surprises. Tge houses to the north had an 8% premium to the original 4 bed house 7 months ago when deposits were down and a larger % premium for 3 beds. I've heard mention that the standard 4 bed in Autumn could be asking 575k - before you put in floors etc.. so the agents don't seem to think it will deter. H&M didn't have the best sales reputation and I know a number of dissatisfied buyers that were left with a bad taste from dealing with them. Maybe they were a bit more coy than usual to get the units sold? They are estate agents so deserve the same trust as a used car salesman imo.
The new one, that was originally 2 storey does not have any houses to the north to take light from, it will take morning light from the school and evening light from houses to the east of which there are currently about 8 built. Those 8 have south facing gardens so I doubt buyers will mind. The park is to the north so won't make a diff to existing houses by much in terms of light. The biggest positive is that the commercial units are gone so that does alleviate traffic of all kinds. Wasn't needed anyway!
The national development plan wants mixed unit types in all developments going forward. So people can trade up/down without having to leave their community. It's correct and what happens in most developed countries. DM is a Nama estate so it's surprising no apartments have been released yet. It will be interesting to see what's built to the south (somerton lane area) as if "Diswellstown" is to become an area in Castleknock in its own right it will be forced to have quite a few apartment blocks. With the tall hotel, 3 storey NS and HP blocks I'd be surprised if the south side of Porterstown road didn't have estates with 3 or 4, even 5 story apartments. The road won't take the traffic but that won't stop NAMA building and getting their money back on the land. I'd be more worried about what goes there than what's in HP as with an average price in excess of half a million+ I doubt there will be many, if any undesirables in either estate. Remember at launch the 4bed (most were in phase 1and 2) in HP was 10k more than DM so most buyers at the time paid a premium to live there. They are both lovely estates, different but HP has the largest standard 3 or 4 beds in the whole area, 40ft gardens, large parks (in completion) a great NS on site with automatic enrolling and soon a crèche. DS is beautifully finished, same school access with some lovely bespoke houses and a "parkland" setting etc...the houses aren't as big but the grounds are undoubtably superior at the moment. Even the walls being stone are a lovely feature etc.... some posters seem to have a misconception that one is premium to the other? One has apartments, one has terraces and 3 storey houses, one is bigger with better infrastructure, one is smaller but feels more compact on the roads and the access reflects the current size etc... they are different but I think both are great estates and none of the issues referred to will change that, look at Bracken, it's nicer than both and a 5 bed started at 750k, facing a 3 storey apartment block. There are terraces too, it's far from the train, small gardens etc.... but it sold out its houses fairly well. Fairhaven had 3 beds starting at 490k and has 000s of apartments with 60% rentals on its doorstep. It's the way the city is going I guess... I think everybody who bought in both has got a lovely, high spec house that most people would love to have. There are always downsides, but I don't think they are as bad as some are making out. People are looking at paying 800k for houses (which are lovely as they are) 1km from Ongar and Blackwood (in Ongar) are asking 530k now, therefore anybody in DM or HP from early on have done really really well imo regardless!
