Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

6.7.2 LANDSCAPE STRATEGY
The overall Landscape Strategy [see map Landscape Strategy] for the area is
prescribed by several essential factors:
● Site Context
– Proximity to the existing Town Centre.
– Access to the adjacent sites and parkland – Barrysparks to the East of R132
and future connections to Ward River Valley Park.
● Route-ways and permeability
– Development of additional routes and access points through the proposed
development and along the adjoining areas.
● Strategic Transport Corridor (R132 ) and Metro North
– Response to engineering requirements; such as the development and
alteration of the R132 and Metro North.
– Response to Metro Plaza.
● Landscape Corridors bounding the edge of the site area
– R132 Parkway – Extension and development.
– Dublin Road.
– Malahide Road.
– Southern Boundary.
● Parkway Experience and Arrival
– Visual appearance and arrival sequence by cars along the R132.
– Arrival sequence for Metro North users.
● Pedestrian Comfort and Usability
– Where the road network comes in contact with the pedestrian realm, it is
essential that the landscape treatment responds in such a way that the public
space is adapted or treated in a manner that protects the users of the
development, while avoiding an unnecessary interruption to the vehicular flow.
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
The Landscape Strategy in relation to the Pavilions Development area, R132 Edge,
Malahide Edge, and Southern Edge, is as follows:
● Create a series of landscaped corridors between R132 and Main St./Dublin
Road along the Malahide Road; and along the Southern Edge with Carlton
Court.
● Create a series of landscape character areas within the landscape framework.
● The treatment of the R132 edge is proposed as a continuation of a ‘Parkway’
route including substantial landscaping and tree planting. It is proposed to
extend this treatment onto the eastern end of the Malahide Road.
● A landscape corridor is proposed along the southern boundary to improve
the definition of existing landscape spaces within Carlton Court and improve
the quality of the existing edge parking areas. (See Section Edge Conditions:
Southern Edge).
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● A landscaped corridor and buffer is proposed along the Malahide Road,
within the new multi-level public space incorporating new tree planting to
compliment the existing stand of mature trees to the south of Longlands.
● The Masterplan will make a connection to the Ward River Valley Park at the
Cultural Square, linking this valuable amenity back to Swords.
● A distinct landscape intervention is needed for each of the public spaces
within the area.
Residential
● A network of connected landscaped gardens shall be located at residential level.
● There shall be a mix of private and communal amenity spaces.