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
Materials Buildings along Seatown Road have a consistent palette of materials Materials to be used at Seatown Road should age well and weather well. The materials specified in the table below are the ‘base materials’ to be
– stone, brick and slate. Recent development to the northern edge of used in a building. Exceptions to this list may be allowed. While glass is obviously permitted, buildings where the entire façade is glazed will not
Seatown Road has introduced more innovative materials and features generally be permitted. For the design of façades along Main Street, the relationship between solid (wall) to void (openings) is important, and this
in keeping with the colour palette of the area.
is expressed as a percentage where the minimum ‘solid’ is to comprise 40% of the façade. The maximum void or glazed area is expressed as 60%
of the façade.
3.4.3(a) COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL – NORTH STREET EAST
Urban Design Principle Issue Urban Design Guidelines
Walls Roofs Windows
Stone Natural Slate Timber
Brick Metal Standing Seam Extruded metal
(in various bonds) e.g Lead, Zinc (excluding uPVC)
Render Photovoltaics
Wood (i.e. iroko,
red cedar, oak)
Green Roof
Metal (i.e. copper,
alluminium)
Concrete
Fibre Cement Slate
Land Uses North Street East contains a range of valued local comparison and
service provision. This is primarily concentrated around the junctions
both north and south of North Street.
Protect and enhance the local comparison, office and service provision within North Street.
Topography The character area’s flat topography heightens the significance of the Buildings here should fit in with the existing townscape which brings out Swords local topography. Consider the impact of buildings on sightlines
protected structures within the area.
and views within this character area.
Views The protected structures as outlined in Appendix 1 (Protected Structures)
provide some positive short range views within North Street East.
Protect the views of the protected structures along North Street East.
Public Open Space There is limited green landscaping along North Street East.
Potential opportunities to create new public spaces along the street should be explored such as at the junction of Seatown Road and North Street.
Consider the potential to introduce additional green space and street tree planting as part of new development.
Legibility This eastern edge of North Street contains some very legible
Ensure that key landmarks such as the protected structures east of North Street East remain dominant within the streetscape. Consider
features: the historic street shape of North Street and the historic
opportunities to enhance on street parking provision along North Street. Consider the introduction of a coherent signage strategy across the town
buildings which lines them.
to improve legibility.
Connections + Routes North Street East is the key direct north-south route through Swords The environment within North Street East should be made conducive to pedestrians and on-street car parking. Pedestrian crossings should be
and will be a direct route to the proposed Estuary Metro Stop.
Pedestrian footpaths and the quality of the public realm within this
area are generally poor. At certain parts along North Street East
illegal parking on the footpaths are evident.
protected and enhanced, and on-street car parking should be improved upon.
Parking On-street parking is an important convenience for visitors to North
Consider carefully parking provision in the character area and explore the potential for additional public parking as part of new developments. The
Street. There are no significant off-street car parks in the area, which
increases pressure on neighbouring residential streets.
existing on-street parking within the North Street East area should be protected and bays clearly delineated.
Safety and Security To the east of North Street, directly north of the Carnegie Court Hotel Encourage where possible low boundary walls/hedging to ensure optimum surveillance of the public realm. The principles of ‘Safer Places: the
block there exists a street of high walls and inactive frontages to the
public realm.
planning system and crime prevention’ by the ODPM should be incorporated as part of any new development. Please refer to Appendix 2.
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