Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

3.6 Public Realm Strategy
In recognition of the importance of the public realm to the vibrancy and quality of
the Town Centre environment, Fingal County Council will prepare a public realm
strategy for the Town Centre. The issues which will be addressed in this strategy
will include inter alia the following:
● Provision of two public plazas at the Civic (Swords Castle) node and the
proposed Cultural node at the southern end of Main Street.
● Enhancement of the ‘Green’ character of Main Street.
● Reduction in the width of the carriageway along Main Street and the widening
of footpaths, thereby enhancing pedestrian connectivity and priority.
● Traffic management measures, including on-street parking arrangements.
● Removal of superfluous street clutter and providing for integrated street
furniture, public lighting and signage strategy.
● Integration of hard and soft landscaping, with an appropriate maintenance
regime (with particular regard to providing a palette of [1] appropriate tree
species and [2] material palette for hard landscaping/surface materials
within the Town Centre).
● Establishment of criteria for the provision and location of public art.
The criteria to be considered within the public realm strategy are discussed
further in this document under Section 9.0. This public realm strategy for the
Town Centre will be prepared in tandem with the development of the traffic
management strategy for Swords Town Centre and shall be complete within
12-24 months of the preparation of the Masterplan.
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR SWORDS TOWN CENTRE
The public realm strategy for the Town Centre will be prepared in tandem with
the development of the traffic management strategy for Swords Town Centre.
A key element in any traffic Future Traffic Management Strategy for the Town
Centre will be determining appropriate on-street car parking arrangements
within the Town Centre and deciding on suitable location/s for a multi-storey
facility .There is a need to provide for the development of adequate levels of short
term car parking facilities in the vicinity of the Main Street to support its
continued role as the ‘heart’ of Swords Town Centre. Currently there is extensive
on-street parking within the Town Centre as well as a number of surface car
parks and one multi-storey facility. A number of locations [including Bridge
Street, North Street and Forsters Way] will be examined by Fingal County Council
in order to decide on the most suitable location/s for the development and
delivery of a multi-storey facility/facilities within the Town Centre adequate to
serve the growing short term parking demands within the Town Centre.
Bridge Street: A multi storey car park at Bridge Street could provide two levels
below ground and three levels above. Access to the car park could be from the
eastern edge of Bridge Street. The multi storey car park could be screened with
commercial/office and residential development fronting onto Bridge Street, the
River Ward and to the southern edge of the proposed development block. Apart
from creating an attractive car park this would provide activity at street level and
additional security. The height of the development should not over dominate that
of the adjacent buildings and a suitable distance between the existing buildings
should be allowed to protect residential amenity.
At Forsters Way: The provision of a multi storey car park at Forster Way could
provide two levels below ground and four levels above. Access to the car park
would be from New Street. The multi storey car park will be screened with
commercial/office and residential development fronting onto New Street and
Chapel Lane as well as the pedestrian lane leading into Oaklands Park.
At North Street: Providing an over ground multi storey car park at North Street
could provide over 4 levels of car parking spaces. This would involve the
redevelopment of 3 motor forecourt areas including Des Darcy Motors Ltd,
Swords Auto and Castle Rock. Access to the car park would be from North Street
and the development could be screened with commercial/office and residential
development fronting onto North Street.
3 8