It's all down to the initial launch of 330 properties last Thursday, a day described by Shane Daly, director of selling agents Gunnes New Homes, as "phenomenal". 305 of those apartments, duplexes and houses were snapped up by a range of buyers, citing both design and infrastructure as key attractions. And who was buying? First-time buyers and families, many of whom are from the local area.

The good news for those who missed the boat on Thursday is that this weekend's second launch will see the properties remain at the same initial price . . . unlike other developments in similar situations, when prices are hiked up 10,000 or more.

Castlethorn Construction, developing the massive Adamstown project jointly with Maplewood Homes and Tierra Construction, is delighted with the success of this first phase. "The feedback from people is that they couldn't get over the quality of the design and finish, and also the size of each of the properties . . . especially the family homes, which have some 143 sq m [1,539 sq ft] of floor space, " says Shane Daly.

"Another important factor is that the new train station, which will have a 15 minutes journey into Hueston Station, will definitely be ready by March 2007, and the new primary school is set for completion by September 2007."

The difference between the new homes at Adamstown Castle, billed as "the ultimate in town planning, " and even some of the recently-built estates nearby is apparent.

Houses in the surrounding area that were built within the past decade now seem very traditional: 3- and 4-bed semi-ds constructed to a uniform design in straight rows along straight roads, perhaps with a green space nearby.

In contrast, Adamstown Castle captures everything the "new housing" ideology espouses. These houses are built in a village style, with a wide variety of sizes, layouts and streetscapes, so that the physical surroundings can contribute to what will be a new community.

Over the next decade, the 150 acres beside Finnstown Castle will be transformed, but this will be no sprawling suburb. There will be 10,000 new homes, all high-density units arranged in village style around green spaces, with a mix of house and apartments set along varied streetscapes.

Within walking distance, they will have their own, very "urban-style" town centre . . .built in the manner of a town, with the shops, pubs, offices, cinemas and restaurants opening onto new streets, rather than in an enclosed, "shopping centre" style.

Three primary schools, a secondary school, some 1400 creche places, playing fields, a 72-acre parkland area, a leisure centre, pool and three children's play areas that are planned will be dotted around the clusters of housing.

Castlethorn Construction is the lead builder on this massive project, the first to be developed under Strategic Development Zone legislation, which essentially means that all the infrastructure has to go in at the same pace as the houses. Dundrum Town Centre, Belarmine in Stepaside, south Co Dublin, and Rathborne Village in Ashtown, west Dublin, are among its more recent projects.

When Taoiseach Bertie Ahern officially launched the start of construction at Adamstown earlier this year, he was keen to stress the government's commitment to providing infrastructure along with the houses.

"Adamstown has an inherent government guarantee, in the shape of its SDZ designation, that it will want for nothing in terms of social and physical infrastructure in the years ahead, " he said.

Ben Brady, sales manager at Castlethorn, says the company takes its social commitments very seriously and will ensure the first primary school is open for the 2007 school year and the train station by June 2007 "We will not be found wanting as far as provision of infrastructure is concerned, " he says firmly.

"Our aim here is to build a sustainable community, where owner occupiers can buy their first home, trade up or trade down from a larger home. We want to create a town where young people, families and older people can live together."

Adamstown Castle is designed by O'Mahony Pike Architects. The clusters of 330 apartments, duplexes and houses in the first phase form the "gateway" to the whole Adamstown development, according to John O'Mahony, who says "its grandeur and subtle elegance serve as a precursor to the design of the rest of the town."

The entrance is off the Newcastle Road, and curving duplex terraces fan out from two taller apartment buildings that act as landmark buildings to introduce the new town.

With a variety of homes planned, Castlethorn has eight show-homes ready for viewing . . . as well as a swanky marketing suite with a model of what Adamstown will look like and a video outlining the future transport and infrastructure plans.

The showhouses were designed by In Situ design, Minima, Janet Nash and Nicola Pollard. "There's also a Homestyle section where buyers can choose what tiles, kitchens, paint colours, fireplaces and other accessories are available, " says Gunne's Shane Daly.

Prices are structured to cater for different needs, with one-beds from 280,000.

That rises to 520000 for four-beds with a garage and an unusual and flexible layout in which the living rooms and kitchen are on the first floor.

The design of streetscapes and interiors is varied to suit every taste. The developers have insisted that all units are spacious, and the accommodation within them has been beautifully laid out to capture as many dual-aspect living rooms as possible. The proportions are good too, providing lots of choice in terms of furniture layout.

The two-bed apartments are larger than most, particularly those over the threebed duplex homes. These 87sq m (936sq ft) "Type J3" apartments have fantastic square living rooms with a balcony off each side, kitchen, two very good sized bedrooms, built-in wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom beside the master bedroom, as well as a main bathroom.

The floor to ceiling windows, balcony space and dual aspect and proportions of the J3 apartment make it one of the best you will see.

The three-bed duplex apartments are 110 sq m (1,184 sq ft) and have three good-sized bedrooms, really spacious kitchen/dining rooms and large living rooms at the back, which open onto small terraces.

Because there is so much safe shared space, including a completed children's playground close by, it's easy to envisage young families buying into these properties, priced from 335,000.

There are also three-bed houses, similar in style but with their own small gardens.

The larger four-bed homes also come in a variety of styles. The four-bed home with its own garage has the living room and dining/ kitchen area on the first floor.

The wide hall opens into a large bathroom, with a double bedroom beside it and a back door to the garden.

The garage is accessed internally and could be converted into a separate living area, where there is enough space to put in an open-plan kitchen. It means the ground floor could be converted to make separate living space for an older relative or for a childminder.

Upstairs, the living and kitchen area overlooks one of the green areas, while three additional bedrooms and an en suite shower room are up on the second floor.

A second type of four-bed is more conventional in layout, having the living/diningroom and kitchen on the ground floor, and three bedrooms and a family bathroom on the first floor. The second floor houses the master bedroom and en suite as well as a wonderful roof terrace, which adds a nice touch of contemporary luxury.

Whether they are one-beds or four-beds, all the houses have timber windows, a choice of four kitchens and kitchen appliances. They come with fine fitted wardrobes, larger than usual showers, tiling in the bathrooms, a choice of fireplace (where they are included in the houses) and good quality sanitary ware. All homes have gas-fired central heating and are wired for broadband, television and phones in almost every room.

The streets, squares, grassy areas surrounding ancient lime trees, playgrounds, roads and pedestrian pathways outside are already taking on a green and mature feel thanks to some sensitive work by Instant Landscapes.

Adamstown will take 10 years to complete, but, in terms of design . . . not just unit numbers . . . we're seeing the start of something big.

Price: From one-beds starting at 280,000 up to four-bed houses at 520,000 Agent: Gunne New Homes, 01 - 628 2332