Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

3.4.2 CIVIC/COMMUNITY
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
Urban Design Principle Issue Urban Design Guidelines
Land Uses The proposed Metro North stop at Seatown will create increased pedestrian
flows. There is an opportunity to increase the vibrancy and vitality in this
area. Existing uses of Swords Castle, Fingal County Council and Courthouse
at junction of Seatown Road/North St./Main St. indicates a currently strong
civic use presence in this area. A primary school and ‘Fingal Prosper’ are
also located along Seatown Road, aswell as a number of residential units.
Promote the development of community and civic related development within this area.
Topography The Town Centre’s flat topography heightens the significance of
landmark buildings.
Consider the impact of tall buildings on sightlines and views around Swords.
Views Swords’ largely flat topography increases the importance of streetlong
views and vistas within the settlement.
Protect Swords building heights and skyline. Protect and enhance view of Swords Castle.
Public Open Space Seatown Road appears bare where the street does not accommodate
green planting or verges.
Planted buffer zones and street trees should be encouraged to increase the amount of greenery on the street.
Legibility Seatown Road provides a legible structure to the character area as
well as key pedestrian and vehicular paths.
Increase the legibility of the area through the use of landmark features such as focal buildings, intimate spaces and street trees.
Connections + Routes Seatown Road provides direct access eastwards to the R132 and the Consideration should be given to improving the pedestrian realm along Seatown Road where the numbers of pedestrians is likely to grow with the
M1 motorway. The proposed Metro North extension to Swords should
reduce the volume of traffic travelling through the centre of Swords
and increase its role as a pedestrian friendly urban centre.
construction of the Metro.
Parking Within the civic community character area there exists one overspill Within this area, parking should be on-street where possible or communal in landscaped courts to minimise the interruptions along the footpath.
surface car park for employees of Fingal County Council. This car
Permit parking could be considered as a means of discouraging users from parking within residential streets such as at Seatown Villas and St
park has a capacity of approximately 90 car parking spaces. On street Colmcilles Park. The car park at the junction of Seatown Road/North Street has significant development potential. Redevelopment should have
parking can constrict narrow streets in residential areas (Seatown
Villas) adjacent to Seatown Road.
regard to these Urban Design Guidelines.
Safety and Security The Seatown Road is popular with pedestrians. However, differing
High hedges and walls reduce visual connectivity between the public and private realm, and should be discouraged. The principles of ‘Safer Places: the
front boundary treatments and building setbacks make for differing
levels of street security. Some are open plan; some have low
boundaries whilst others have high walls and dense hedging.
planning system and crime prevention’ by the ODPM should be incorporated as part of any new development. Please refer to Appendix 2.
Protected Structures The character area retains its medieval street pattern and a number The Parochial House is a local protected structure building along Seatown Road. Swords Castle and the Courthouse are also significant protected
of historically significant buildings.
structures within this area. The buildings and their curtilages should be retained and their setting enhanced through streetscape improvements
to reinforce local character.
Development Block
Size
The block layout in the civic/community core is typically organic in
form and layout.
New block structures should retain the prevailing block dimensions. However some flexibility and variation in size and shape should be promoted
to reinforce the distinctive organic nature of the town.
Urban Grain On the northern side of Seatown Road the building widths are at least Use the existing urban grain dimensions as a basis to guide new development. For the Civic/Community character area maintain the prevailing
25m wide. The semidetached dwellings, at the junction of Main Street building width of 10m to the southern edge of Seatown Road and up to 30m to the northern edge of Seatown Road. New development can address
and North Street have widths that are significantly less at 10 wide.
this grain also through facade articulation.
Quality of Building
Frontage
The quality of building frontages are generally positive, with the exception
of the frontages at the junction ofMain St./North St./Seatown Rd.
Encourage the removal of vacant buildings north of Main Street to allow for high quality public realm fronting Swords Castle. A public realm strategy is
required to address the area at the junction of Seatown Rd./North St./Main St.
Building Orientation Buildings are set in rows facing the street, with some blank
New development should maintain strong continuity of building frontage addressing the street. A specific site design and development brief is
frontages. The junction of Seatown Rd./North St. lacks definition
required for athe site currently occupied by Fingal County Council car park. Building orientation and addressing of street will be considered as
given the presence of Fingal County Council car park on the corner. part of this.
Building Height and
Massing
Buildings within this character area are predominantly 2 storey with
varying floor to ceiling heights.
Specific site design and development briefs are required for opportunity sites along Seatown Road. New development will have regard to existing
residential amenity.
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