Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

The Rise
CHARACTER
● The Rise shall be the main 24 hour public thoroughfare linking Barrysparks
lands over the R132 via the Metro Quarter and connecting to Pavilions area
and Malahide Road. This street shall cater for cyclists, taxi and bus traffic.
● The Rise shall be designed as a sloping street (1:20 slope in line with
building regulations) with a bridge over the R132.
DESIGN
● The width of The Rise street will be 12-14m and at a slope of less than 1:20.
This shall be subject to confirmation of detailed engineering requirements
for bus access.
● Building height, orientation and width of the street shall ensure daylight and
sunlight within the street, while minimising overshadowing.
USES
● The Rise shall facilitate pedestrian/cyclist/public transport access from
Malahide Road to the R132 and into the Barrysparks development area.
● Entrances and frontages shall be organised along this street to ensure activity.
Western Avenue
CHARACTER
● Western Avenue is an “all vehicle” avenue, facilitating permeable access
through the site. It will be the main access road for vehicles travelling from
the north and shall connect with the Airside/Drynam Distributor Road network
providing access to the southeast of Swords and the surrounding road network.
DESIGN
● The carriageway width shall be 7-8m with footpaths and cycleways
separated from the carriageway on either side. The width from building to
building shall be 28- 30m.
● This tree lined avenue shall have buildings ranging in height from 3 to 7
floors on either side reinforcing the street’s importance as a major route.
● Building height, orientation and width of the street shall ensure daylight and
sunlight within the street, while minimising overshadowing.
USES
● Western Avenue shall be fronted by a mix of office and ground floor retail
uses, with a focus on active frontages to this street.
● Uses over the retail street shall form part of street facades creating points
of focal interest and passive supervision of the street.
● Landscaped courtyards serving the residential/office units may be visible
providing opportunity for the landscaping to become part of the street character.
The Cut
CHARACTER
● The Cut shall be a secondary 24 hour pedestrian/cyclist route linking Upper
Street and The Rise.
DESIGN
● The Cut shall be 6m wide.
● Building heights shall be 19m – 30m
● Building height, orientation and width of the street shall ensure daylight and
sunlight within the street, while minimising overshadowing. Shadow studies
will be conducted as part of the planning process to ensure that the height
and mass of the buildings are approporiate and do not have a negative
impact within the site or on the surrounding areas.
USES
● Active retail uses shall be accommodated with offices and residential units
over the retail units.
● Uses over the retail street shall form part of street facades creating points
of focal interest and passive supervision of the street.
● Landscaped courtyards serving the residential/office units may be visible
providing opportunity for the landscaping to become part of the street character.
Bridge Street
CHARACTER
● This 24 hour Cross Street shall link Western and Eastern Avenues and is
predominately for the use of cyclists, pedestrians and restricted vehicular
access/service vehicles.
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
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DESIGN
● This street shall be 14-15m wide.
● Building heights will be 19-27m.
● A small public space is provided halfway along its length and is called
Barrysparks Place.
● Building height, orientation and width of the street shall ensure daylight and
sunlight within the street, while minimising overshadowing.
USES
● Retail uses with residential uses over shall be accommodate along Bridge Street.
● Leisure, amenity and active uses shall front onto Barrysparks.
● Landscaped courtyards serving the residential units may be visible providing
opportunity for the landscaping to become part of the street character.
Cross Street
CHARACTER
● Cross Street provides 24 hour access between Western and Eastern Avenues
and is predominately for the use of cyclists, pedestrians and service vehicles.
● The primary public space within this area ‘Main Square’ adjoins Cross Street
and shall be addressed by active frontages.
DESIGN
● This street shall be 14-15m wide. At limited times
of the day it may also be used by cars. In the
evenings its use will help bring activity to the
central parts of the development.
USES
● Retail uses with residential and office uses over
shall be accommodated along this street.
● Ground floor uses shall have active frontages to
enliven the street.
● Main Square will support a mix of active frontages
address this public space and the street.