Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

2.4 Masterplan Development Areas
The focus of the Swords Masterplan 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 Masterplan 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 Masterplan [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 Swords 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 Masterplan 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 Swords
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 Swords will be
accommodated within the Pavilions develoment area. This section of the
Masterplan 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: Swords 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 Swords 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 Swords.
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● Barrysparks Town Centre Expansion: Swords, 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 Masterplan 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 Masterplan 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 Masterplan.
The Masterplan 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 Swords 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 ‘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.
Civic Quarter Main Street Cultural Quarter Pavilions Metro Quarter Barrysparks