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2.4 <strong>Masterplan</strong> Development Areas The focus of the <strong>Swords</strong> <strong>Masterplan</strong> area relates to the MC zoned lands within the Main Street and North Street areas, Pavilions development area, and Barrysparks development area. The development plan boundary for the <strong>Masterplan</strong> extends beyond these areas to ensure that guidance and proposals are considered within the context of adjoining residential and existing general industrial areas. The following strategic key areas and focal public spaces (described in order of north to south within the Town), are addressed within the <strong>Masterplan</strong> [see map Development and Character Areas]: ● Civic Quarter: This area at the junction of Main Street/North Street shall be designated as a Civic Quarter, where it is intended to build on civic uses in this area, thereby strengthening the attraction of the northern end of Main Street. As part of the enhancement of this area, a public realm strategy will be developed and implemented in front of the <strong>Swords</strong> Castle at the junction of Main Street/North Street. ● Historic Town Core/the Main Street and North Street Areas: This area has great development growth and potential with a variety of Main Street uses and attractions. The backlands to the west of Main Street (fronting the Ward River Walk) and key strategic infill sites are identified in the <strong>Masterplan</strong> and present an opportunity for future redevelopment, as do a number of infill sites along North Street. In conjunction with these developments, it is important that there is an improvement in cultural and recreational functions of <strong>Swords</strong> Town Centre and in conjunction significant improvements of the public realm. S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N ● Cultural Quarter: The Cultural Quarter will include culturally focused uses, such as a town library, theatre, galleries and arts centre. This area will accommodate a direct pedestrian connection through the Pavilions site to the Metro Quarter and links into the Ward River Valley Park. A public square will be the central focus and setting to cultural buildings and the scale of the public space will be capable of supporting outdoor performance, outdoor dining, performance art, promenade as well as meeting/seating spaces. ● Pavilions Town Centre Expansion: Facilitation of the planned and integrated expansion of the retail/mixed use core of <strong>Swords</strong> will be accommodated within the Pavilions develoment area. This section of the <strong>Masterplan</strong> identifies the mixed use potential of this area, proposed movement strategy, public realm strategy, identification of a street hierarchy and heights strategy. A key element of the development of this area will be the integration of this urban expansion area with the existing Town Centre through the Cultural Quarter and Malahide Road area and linkages with the Town Centre Metro Stop and bus interchange facility, as well as MC zoned lands east of the R132 at Barrysparks. ● Metro Quarter: <strong>Swords</strong> Town Centre will be served by a Metro North Stop located centrally on the R132 in proximity to MC zoned lands at Pavilions and Barrysparks development areas. The <strong>Swords</strong> Metro North stop will be distinguished from the other Metro North stops by the following elements: A high quality well designed public realm plaza above the Metro line; An accessible public transport interchange point over the R132; Metro Box*; High-quality and architecturally significant Town Centre developments east and west of the stop, which will be fully integrated with the stop. This area will become established as the Metro Quarter and will form a vital orientation node for those arriving in <strong>Swords</strong>. 1 3 ● Barrysparks Town Centre Expansion: <strong>Swords</strong>, which is a major Town Centre, must continue to expand its mixed-use role in conjunction with the Pavilions development area. This section of the <strong>Masterplan</strong> sets out a movement strategy, public realm strategy, street hierarchy and heights strategy. The scale, form and massing of development, in conjunction with its permeability and connectivity to the Town Centre is important for the future development of this area. Connectivity to the multi-modal interchange at Metro Quarter and to the Town Centre west of the R132 is key to this development area. The <strong>Masterplan</strong> examines the above areas in detail within this document. In the long term, it is envisaged that additional development areas south of MC zoned lands within Barrysparks, and the Dublin Road area (see ‘Future Development Zone’ on map ‘Development and Character Areas’) will be developed/rejunevated as part of the Town Centre. These areas will be examined through a separate LAP process and in subsequent reviews of this <strong>Masterplan</strong>. The <strong>Masterplan</strong> aims to enable the achievement of a vibrant Town Centre with a focus on the continued development and interaction of multi-functional uses, permeability, connectivity, vitality and viability of <strong>Swords</strong> Town Centre within a legible and sustainable context. * 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 ‘<strong>Swords</strong> Town Centre’ east and west of the R132, as shown in the <strong>Fingal</strong> Development Plan 2005 to 2011. This Metro Box plan was adopted under Part 8. Civic Quarter Main Street Cultural Quarter Pavilions Metro Quarter Barrysparks