Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

Good things don’t happen by accident; they require forethought, commitment
and enthusiasm.
2.1 Urban Design
Urban design is the art of making places for people. It concerns the way places
work, the interaction between the different elements that make up the town-scene
and urban fabric, as much as the way they look. It concerns the inter-relationships
between people and places, activities and built fabric, movement and urban form,
connecting and identity building, so ensuring successful towns and cities. Most
people want to visit, work or live in a place where they have access to a diverse
range of quality facilities, a place that is well connected and feels welcoming;
a place with an excellent public realm and good homes, local shopping and
entertainment venues on the doorstep; a place with good employment
opportunities and easy access to education and recreation facilities.
The need for good urban design to achieve a high quality and sustainable urban
environment is well established at a National and EU level in such policies as
the Bristol Accord, Leipzig Charter, and the UK Urban Task Force report
“Towards an Urban Renaissance”.
The Swords Town Centre Masterplan promotes the adoption of the principles of
good urban design as a central tool of the planning and development process.
2.2 Role of the Masterplan
The planning of the Town Centre and its relationship to the surrounding environs
require an organisational logic that addresses the needs of the area as a whole.
This leads to a coherent and functional model for planning changes, understanding
interdependencies and prioritising investment in critical aspects of the area.
The intention of the Masterplan is to both inspire confidence in and guide
proposed development to 2020 (with a review in 2014, post arrival of Metro North)
according to a readily understood plan with the motivating factor of realising the
inherent benefits to all of a high quality Town Centre urban environment.
The defined objectives and urban design framework of the Masterplan provide
essential guidance for generating detailed development proposals. The plan will be
used as the planning context in assessing applications/pre-planning discussions for
development in the Town Centre area. As such the guidance will be subject to
interpretation and the parameters set out by the plan will have varying degrees of
flexibility to achieve the required outcome. The merits of detailed design proposals
will require a rigorous assessment method to distinguish if acceptable urban design
standards have been met within the conditions established by the Masterplan.
2.2.1 MASTERPLAN AS A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT
The Masterplan includes guidance in respect of building heights and street widths
(where new streets are proposed) within the MC zoned lands generally, as well as
further elaboration on architectural style, materials and urban form within the
traditional Town Centre and in particular for the key opportunity sites identified.
The Masterplan architectural and urban design guidance is given to stimulate
development, introduce some degree of certainty and to encourage quality design.
The indicative heights described in the Masterplan are the recommended
maximum permissible heights, based on established urban design principles
and in particular having regard to the following:
● respecting the amenity of existing development;
● positive contribution to the public realm;
● heritage value;
● Landmark role and
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
2.0 Masterplan Overview
● sustainable compact development.
However, all such urban design and architectural guidance is indicative only,
and each development proposal presented to the planning authority will be
considered on its merits through the development management process.
Non-compliance with the Masterplan Guidelines will not automatically preclude
planning permission being granted, however, applications which propose
deviations from the Masterplan Guidance must be set within a detailed urban
design rationale and in the context of the urban design appraisal and guidelines
set out within the Masterplan before they can be considered favourably.
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2.3 Urban Design Criteria and
Assessment Method
The assessment of the adequacy of detailed development proposals requires a
procedure that uses common criteria that are sensitive to the overall model and
the demands of the site urban design brief.
Consideration of the following key urban design criteria is essential to achieve
urban design excellence:
Development Form Aspects:
● Structure – Layout, grain and street pattern
● Open space – landscape and public realm
● Density and Mix – Uses and appropriate densities
● Scale – Massing, density and height
● Appearance – Detail and Materials
Urban Design Qualities:
● Character – A place of its own identity
● Continuity and enclosure – A place where public and private spaces are
clearly distinguished
● Quality of the Public Realm – A place with attractive and successful outdoor
areas
● Permeability – Ease of movement – A place that is easy to get to and move
through
● Legibility – A place that has a clear image and is easy to understand
● Adaptability – A place that can change easily
● Diversity – A place with variety and choice
● Sustainability – A place that is sensitive to the environment
Based on the above qualities, urban design guidance has been prepared for each of
the character and development areas: (existing Town Centre (Commercial/Residential,
Civic Community and the Retail/Commercial Core), Cultural Quarter, Pavilions
Development Area, Metro Quarter and Barrysparks Development Area. These
guidelines are contained within the relevant sections dealing with each discrete
area. The above key urban design criteria and specific urban design guidance will
be used in the assessment of the adequacy of detailed development proposals.