Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

8.4 Heights And Massing
Building heights and massing will be controlled within a height strategy which
responds to:
(i) The existing site context and neighbouring areas.
(ii) The creation of 2 major public spaces of significant size (excluding Metro
Plaza) and the need to create appropriate scale of enclosure.
(iii) Provision of a modulated or graded profile away from the buildings about
the major public spaces which indicates a hierarchy of space.
(iv) Identify locations which could accommodate landmark forms to strengthen
spatial hierarchy.
Building heights are indicated as a series of height ranges which respond to the
Heights Strategy, uses within each building, the need to create a modulated
building profile and to minimise any potential of overshadowing [see map
Barrysparks Heights Strategy].
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
A location suitable for a landmark building has been identified at the southern
edge of Metro Plaza. This 40m+ building will be a landmark and will provide a
sense of arrival for the development. This mixed-use building forms a gateway
to Barrysparks.
Surrounding the landmark building, structures of up to 40m are located along
the R132 to provide a sense of enclosure for Metro Plaza. This responds to the
desire to increase density adjacent to a public transport node.
From Metro Plaza, building heights are gradually reduced into the site. Building
heights between Eastern and Western Avenue vary up to 30m. The highest
building is located between Upper Street and Lower Street on the northern side of
the Main Square. This tall building helps to identify and define this public space.
Apartment buildings along the eastern edge of Eastern Avenue are further
reduced in height and respond sensitively to the houses located along the
eastern boundary.
Offices/business buildings along the western edge of Western Avenue will be
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reduced in height to respond to the buildings at Airside Business Park.
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.
LANDMARK BUILDING
The proposal for the metro stop at Swords and the desire to extend the Town
Centre provides the opportunity to create major building developments at
Barrysparks. Allied to this is the need to increase density within close proximity
of a public transport node.
A site adjacent to Metro Plaza is identified as a location for a landmark building.
This important site addresses the southern side of the plaza and its massing will
complement the development on the opposite side at the Pavilions site. This
building forms part of a gateway to the Barrysparks development. The building
will be a mixed use development on ten floors. Three of those floors will be
retail, floors four to seven will contain offices and the upper three floors will be
residential.
Heights Strategy