Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

12.2 Historic Town Centre
The first phases of development permissible immediately, subject to normal
planning considerations, will be those relating to the on-going development and
regeneration of the Historic Town Centre of Swords. It is essential that this area
be permitted to grow and develop within this first phase so that it keeps pace
with and complements the development which will be taking place in the Town
Centre expansion areas (namely in Penneys, Pavilions and ultimately Barryparks
development areas).
Development which contributes or fast tracks the Council’s objective of delivering
Cultural and Community uses and public places, such as those proposed at the
Cultural Quarter and Civic Quarter, will also be given priority as the creation of
these areas is an integral element of maintaining and enhancing the vibrancy of
the historic Town Centre and creating a balanced and well serviced emerging
city. To encourage and complement development within the Town Centre, a
Public Realm and Traffic Management Strategy for the Town Centre will be
completed within 12-24 months of the preparation of this Masterplan.
12.3 Town Centre Expansion Areas
The new mixed-use and retail expansion areas can be divided into several
phases, namely:
1. Phase 3 of Pavilions Extension (retail, office, and residential development,
integrating with the existing Shopping Centre, the Metro and R132)
2. Phase 1 of Barrysparks Development (which comprises a first phase of
development on the MC zoned land immediately east of the R132, such as
would be sufficient to provide a commercial/retail interface with the Metro
on the eastern side of R132).
3. Phase 4 of Pavilions Development, which comprises the development of
South Street, the interface between existing Pavilions Shopping Centre and
Dublin Road, and the first phases of the proposed Cultural Quarter (in particular
the library, theatre and Cultural Square).
4. Phase 2 of Barrysparks Development (development of the remainder of MC
zoned land east of R132).
The ancillary social and transport infrastructure which will be required to
complement and serve these retail developments includes:
1. Metro Box* and associated ramp structures.
2. Metro Plaza and pedestrian connections to development east and west of R132.
3. R132 Bus Bridge and connections east and west of R132 (The Rise Street).
4. Metro North.
5. Library.
6. Theatre.
7. Cultural Square.
8. Ward River Place.
9. Drynam Link Road
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
12.4 Indicative Phasing for Town
Centre Expansion Areas
It is acknowledged that availability of Water Services (in particular Waste Water
Treatment capacity) and market forces may influence phasing, as too may
changes in national or local government policy, however, at this time it is
anticipated that phasing will broadly follow that outlined hereunder.
Phase 3 of Pavilions will be initially accommodated with modest and minor
augmentation of the local road network, in particular along the R132 and
Malahide Road Roundabout. The design and development of Pavilions Phase 3
will be required to facilitate its ultimate integration with Metro North and/or
Barrysparks development, as and when these developments arrive in Swords.
Pavilions & Barrysparks Interface. It is envisaged that the proposed Metro Box*
will be required to serve the anticipated vehicular traffic movements associated
with the ultimate development of Swords east and west of R132. The timing of
delivery of the Metro Box* and its integration with the development of the town
expansion areas will be considered within development management context.
Upon arrival of Metro North and specifically the opening of the Swords Stop, the
Plaza/Podium and pedestrian link through the proposed Pavilions Central Street
will be required.
Independent of Metro North arriving, it is envisaged that the Metro Box*,
Podium/Level 1 pedestrian linkage and Bus Bridge will be required in order to
integrate the existing and expanding retail area west of the R132 to the new retail
expansion area identified east of the R132 (i.e. Barrysparks MC zoned lands).
Phase 1 of Barrysparks will require the completed Metro Box*, the second
element of the pedestrian link, connecting Central Street west of the R132 to that
east of the R132, proposed R132 Bus Bridge (linking Malahide Road, The Rise, and
Barrysparks development area) and completion of proposed Drynam Link Road.
Having regard to its current Land Use Zoning, the development of Barryparks
‘MC’ zoned lands requires the adoption of a Local Area Plan.
Phase 4 of the Pavilions will deliver South Street (residential street), the
interface between existing Pavilions Shopping Centre and Dublin Road, and the
first phases of the proposed Cultural Quarter (at minimum the proposed library,
theatre and Cultural Square). The remainder of the Cultural Quarter, i.e. Ward
Place and enhancement of the Park, will be delivered as part of the commercial
development of lands on the west side of the Dublin Road.
Phase 2 of Barrysparks will follow the completion of the Community and Cultural
aspects of the Cultural Quarter. Assessment of the economic strength and vitality
of the historic Town Centre area will be required in advance of extending the
retail area further eastwards in order to ensure that Historic Town Centre Area,
in particular Swords Main Street, can survive commercially as the commercial
and retail draw moves eastwards. It is envisaged that the creation of a successful
Cultural Quarter at the southern end of Main Street, as well as ensuring a mixeduse
Town Centre, will substantially redress some of the Council’s concerns in
this respect.
* Metro Box is an underground vehicular connection across the R132, associated ramps, and necessary
realignment of the R132 locally, in order to provide for access to lands zoned ‘Swords Town Centre’
east and west of the R132, as shown in the Fingal Development Plan 2005 to 2011. This Metro Box plan
was adopted under Part 8.
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