Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

CANOPIES
Canopies can make a significant impact on the amenity of streets and
consequently the following guidance should be adhered to:
● Canopies should be made from traditional canvas and located directly below
the fascia.
● They should not extend across the pilasters or obscure architectural detail.
● The preferred canopy shall be the rigid traditional type.
● Frilled pelmets around the base of the canopy will not be accepted.
● Curved Dutch and balloon canopies are to be avoided as they are not
traditional to Swords and provide minimal shading and shelter.
● The blind box shall be recessed and designed as part of the shopfront.
LIGHTING
Lighting should be considered as part of the overall shopfront design rather
than as an ad-hoc addition. Subtle lighting can add vitality to the night-time
street scene. However poorly designed light sources can detract fron the overall
appearance of the building during the day. Lighting sources should be
concealed, and carefully directed at the main signage. Flood lighting and
horizontal strip lighting is to be avoided.
Poor quality hanging/projecting elements at various levels, serves to detract from the appearance of this group of buildings.
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
OUTDOOR SEATING AREAS
To place tables and chairs outside a hotel, restaurant, public house or other
establishment where food is sold for consumption on the premises, an
application must be made to the Council for a Street Furniture Licence. The
following guidance is recommended in relation to Outdoor Seating Areas:
● Outdoor seating areas should be located outside/clear of the lines of main
pedestrian movement.
● All emergency exits and routes must be kept clear.
● When in use the outdoor seating area will need to be enclosed, to
demarcate the area which contains the tables and chairs, thus making it
distinguishable from other footpath users.
● Planters can be particularly attractive and can be used as part of the means
of enclosure, but may need to be removed from the footpath outside of
trading hours.
● The furniture should be of a high quality and uniform style within the area.
● Where umbrellas are used these must be fabric type (i.e. non reflective).
Umbrellas are to be positioned so as to avoid overhanging outside the
enclosure or impairing vehicle sightlines.
3 6
Planters used as a successful means of enclosure.
Outdoor seating area located clear of the main pedestrian footway.