Donabate Urban Centre Strategy Fingal County Council

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Area of Study
The Urban Centre Strategy relates to the area of Donabate Town
Centre defined by a yellow line on Map 1: Fingal Development Plan
2005-2011 Zoning Extract for Donabate. The aim is to provide a
development strategy for the town centre, which will examine its
future potential and identify development opportunities required to
support the significant population growth envisaged for the town
and its catchment. Key sites are identified and the strategy examines
their future development potential and provides guidance on their
future layout and design.
Donabate is located within the Dublin and Mid East Region,
approximately 25km north of Dublin city centre, on the Donabate
Peninsula. It is bound on the north and south sides by Rogerstown
and Malahide estuaries respectively and by the coast at Portrane
to the east. The town is surrounded by rural hinterlands mainly of
agricultural and recreational uses. The town is well connected by
road and public transport; located close to the N1 and the M1, a
designated Strategic National Transportation Corridor, and with
the northern main rail line running through the centre of the town.
Dublin City Airport, the principal gateway to Ireland is also located
approximately 5km south west of the town.
The proposed terminus to Metro North will be located at Belinstown
some 4 km from Donabate train station.
1.2 Purpose of Study
In accordance with the Fingal County Development Plan 2005-2011
and under Objective UO2 and Specific Development Objective 1
for Donabate, Fingal County Council intends:
“To prepare an urban centre strategy for Donabate”
In September 2007 Fingal County Council appointed the National
Building Agency, in association with Kate McDermott (Architects
and Landscape Architects) and David O’ Connor (Transportation
Planner) to carry out an Urban Centre Strategy for Donabate.
The Urban Centre Strategy is intended to provide non-statutory
guidance for future development and public realm enhancements
within Donabate town centre.
1.3 The Brief
The following issues within the town are investigated and addressed
as part of this Urban Centre Strategy:
• A traffic management plan and car parking strategy
• Enhancing the experience of the town centre for
pedestrians and cyclists
• Protection of mature trees; Protected Structures and
the settings thereof
• Environmental improvements with particular attention
to the public realm
• Site Design and Development Briefs for key areas of
the town centre which will lay down the parameters for
their future development/redevelopment
Donabate in context
Donabate Urban Centre Strategy 1