Just beside the town, Church Hill is a short walk from local facilities. The town has a regular train service to Dublin's Heuston Station, with a journey time of one hour.

A contemporary-style development with houses finished in a mix of brick and render, the first phase of Church Hill sold out quickly when launched last February.

A busy midland town, Tullamore has plenty of shops, businesses and local facilities, and with the Department of Finance due to relocate under the proposed decentralisation programme, property here is expected to increase in value.

Already the town has undergone a lot of development with the recent opening of the new Tullamore Retail Park whose tenants include Tesco, Atlantic Homecare, DID Electrical and Argos.

And with the new M6 Kinnegad-Kilbeggan bypass due to open later this year, access will be much easier.

Another development expected to boost the town's economy is the forthcoming opening of the new 140m Midlands Regional Hospital.

The current phase of Church Hill comprises 37 homes which are laid out in a cul-de-sac. Two-bed terraced townhouses are quite spacious at 83sq m (891sq ft), and accommodation includes a living room, kitchen/dining room, guest WC, two bedrooms, one en-suite, and a main bathroom.

Two-bed houses come with fitted Shaker-style oak kitchen units and have walnut wardrobes in both bedrooms, while the livingrooms have Portland stone fireplaces.

Three-bed end-of-terrace houses range in size from 102sq m to 106sq m (1096sq ft to 1,139sq ft), and accommodation comprises a hall, livingroom with marble-surround fireplace, open-plan kitchen/dining room with fitted cherry units, utility room and guest WC, three bedrooms, all with walnut wardrobes, one en-suite, and a main bathroom.

Four-bed mid-terrace and end-of-terrace homes have a floor area of around 114sq m (1,223sq ft) and comprise a livingroom, kitchen/dining room, also with fitted cherry units, utility room with guest WC, four bedrooms, one ensuite, and a main bathroom.

All homes come with Nordic pine windows and doors, gas-fired central heating, levelled and seeded back gardens, and fitted storage area.

Price: two-beds from 240,000;

three-beds from 290,000; fourbeds from 315,000 Agent: Michael Duignan Properties (057-9324800)