Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

Topography
Building footprints and streets should follow the line of contours, with buildings
‘stepping up’ slopes where they cross contours. The Main Street area, North
Street area and Seatown Road area are set on relatively flat ground, with a sharp
drop in gradient to the west towards the Ward river. Changes in levels and slopes
here can provide a distinctive character and sense of place. This offers an
opportunity for the roofscape to emphasise the natural landform.
Church Road Area River Ward Backlands Area Main St. Backlands Area
16m
Section AA showing existing levels and indicative building heights
Church Road Area River Ward Backlands Area Main St. Backlands Area
Section BB showing existing levels and indicative building heights
B
16m
A
B
17.8m
21.5m
A
Views
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
The composition of views and vistas adds character, and reinforces legibility and
an understanding of the place. A varied sequence of connecting views, which lead
or draw the eye from one feature to another, creates interest. This should be a
key consideration when designing the new blocks and streets.
Swords’ flat topography makes street-long vistas particularly significant. Views of
Swords Castle from the Main Street and Dublin Street are important, creating a
visual connection to the North Street area. It is the intention of Fingal County
Council to open views to and develop a positive urban space around Swords Castle
as part of a separate project.
The adjacent figure highlights the key view corridors to existing focal buildings
within Swords.
The views to the historic core of Swords at St Columba’s Church and round tower from
the Main Street, Church Road and Well Road are also an important reference point.
There are views to the spire of St Columcille’s Roman Catholic Church from Main
Street and New Street providing a prominent landmark from a distance over
Swords consistent low building height.
There are also strong views of the County Hall, which is a new landmark building
from Bridge Street, Main Street and North Street.
1 1 3
Public Open Space/Public Realm
THE RETAIL/COMMERCIAL CORE
The quality of the public realm in the Town Centre needs to be improved. In
recognition of the importance of the public realm to the vibrancy, vitality and quality of
the Town Centre, Fingal County Council will prepare a detailed public realm strategy.
A key element of this strategy will be developing a civic space at Swords Castle.
Planting and greenery is a distinctive feature of the retail/commercial core. The
wide pavements of the Main Street accommodates large mature treestands (Plane
variety). To supplement this there is a small parcel of green open space and mature
tree stands of Holmes Oak (Evergreen Oak) north of the Main Street associated with
the entrance to the Fingal County Hall. Moving westwards from the Main Street
towards the river there is extensive treestands and greenery. There is also evidence
of a historic stone cut wall along Well Road which contributes to a positive character.
The River Ward currently is an underutilised asset which the Town Centre effectively
turns its back on. There is potential to front buildings onto the river and other green
open spaces to provide surveillance, an active edge, and an attractive visual aspect.
CIVIC/COMMUNITY CORE
There is little soft landscaping or street trees in this character area except for
the greenery associated with the Parochial House and Swords Castle.
COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL
In this character area streets are planted with few street trees and a hard
landscape predominates. The area also enjoys access to open space within
Swords Town Park to the west of North Street.
View Corridors
Focal Buildings
0 25m
100m
N
Green Landscape
Trees
0 25m
Includes Ordnance Survey Ireland data reproduced under OSI Licence No. 2003/07/CCMA/Fingal County Council. © Ordnance Survey Ireland, 2006.
100m
N
Includes Ordnance Survey Ireland data reproduced under OSI Licence No. 2003/07/CCMA/Fingal County Council. © Ordnance Survey Ireland, 2006.