Thormanby Hill is a 17-acre site by Cosgrave Group that launched in May of last year. For a developer best known for its three- and four-bedroom homes this luxe estate of five-bedroom detached houses was an upscale move.

Originally zoned for 20 houses, the low-density development when finished will comprise 30 homes.

Built on a sloping site, each plot had to be levelled before construction could begin.

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The residences sweep in a staggered arc down to a wooded landscaped area of about 2.5 acres and to a children's playground, both classic Cosgrave signatures that you can see in its Honeypark, Dún Laoghaire, and Bracken Park in Dublin 15.

The houses, designed by McCrossan O’Rourke Manning Architects, stand on about one-third of an acre each.

Of the nine houses in phase one, which ranged in asking prices from €1.4 million to €1.6 million, five are complete, with the other four due to close in the next couple of months, according to David Lawlor, director at selling agent Hooke & MacDonald.

Phase two launches today, with another eight five-bedroom detached houses this time asking from €1.475 million to €1.6 million.

The houses have about 312sq m (3,358sq ft) of space and at 25m-wide look and feel sizeable, helped in part by the 2.7m (9ft) ceiling heights and taller-than-average windows.

Off the wide-tiled hallway are two reception rooms of equal size. Each has a sealed wood-burning fireplace with working chimney, adding visual warmth to the A-rated homes. There is also a study and large shower room across the hall that could work as accommodation for an elderly parent or a person of restricted mobility.

The open-plan kitchen, dining/familyroom spans the width of the property and was fitted by Nolan Kitchens. It includes quartz countertops and a good-size utility room.

Every room at ground level has direct access into the garden, where included in the price is some €40,000 of landscaping by Cunnane Stratton Reynolds.

This includes paving and granite driveways. The gardens will be finished to the standard of the showhouse.

Of the five double bedrooms, three have shower ensuite bathrooms. At 39sq m (430sq ft) the master is the size of some one-bedroom apartments and has a custom-built dressing room and a roomy en suite.

The showhouse features the interior design of Brian S Nolan, Cosgrave Developments' preferred decorators, having fitted out every showhouse since the mid-1980s.

Howth village is about a 12-minute walk to either the harbour or along the old tramline to the Dart station.