Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

6.5 Heights and Massing
Building heights and massing will be controlled within a height strategy for the
Pavilions area as a whole and as part of an overall Swords Town Centre Heights
Strategy.
This strategy responds to:
(i) The existing context and neighbouring areas:
Building height will be controlled to respond sensitively to both Carlton Court
along the southern edge of the development area, and Longlands along the
Malahide Road to the north. With regard to massing, there is a specific
requirement for a set back of building massing to below a 30 degree (from
horizontal) angle from the current boundary wall of Carlton Court within a
distance of 45m. The Carlton Court boundary condition requirements are set
out in the following Edge Conditions section and Landscape Strategy.
(ii) The creation of 2 major public spaces of significant size, at the proposed
Cultural Quarter and Pavilions Place, and the need to create an appropriate
scale of enclosure.
(iii) Need to provide a modulated or graded profile away from the buildings
about the major public spaces which indicates a hierarchy of space.
(iii) Identified locations within the Town Centre Heights Strategy, where
landmark forms can be accommodated.
Building heights are indicated as a series of height ranges which respond to the
height strategy, uses within each building, the need to create a modulated
building profile and to minimise any potential of overshadowing [see map
‘Pavilions Development Area: Building Heights’].
The following key elements are important in terms of building heights proposed
within the development area:
● Building heights are provisional and subject to verification that adequate
sunlight and daylight levels are achieved within the development and there
is no adverse impact on adjoining residential areas. Shadow studies will be
conducted to ensure that the height and mass of buildings are appropriate
and do not have a negative impact within the site or on the surrounding areas.
● Building heights are indicated above ground level. The tallest building
heights are indicated at 50m, marking the eastern edge of the Metro
Quarter about the Metro Plaza and marking the gateway and arrival point to
the expanded Swords Town Centre.
● Building heights grade down in stepped ranges from 40m to 20m south,
north and west of the Metro Quarter.
● Building heights grade down further in lower ranges from 0 to 20m toward
the sensitive northern and southern edges.
● Building heights are indicated within 10-15m range along edge to Carlton
Court (see Edge Conditions 3.0 Southern Edge). Heights are subject to the
provision of suitable landscape screening to this edge.
● Building heights along the Malahide Road are to retain a consistent parapet
line with existing Pavilions Building (15-17m) while responding to the existing
residential character of Longlands to the north. At the eastern end of
Malahide Road, near the Malahide Road roundabout, there is potential for
building height of up to 20m.
● Building heights grade down from 30-20m about the future Cultural Quarter
to create appropriate enclosure about the eastern edge of this future public
space.
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