Fingal Co Council has given the go-ahead for development of 3,400 homes in a new neighbourhood planned for 270 acres between Swords and Ashbourne, writes JACK FAGAN
THE NORTH county Dublin town of Swords is to get a substantial new neighbourhood following a decision by Fingal County Council to approve a local area plan for 270 acres along the link road between Swords and Ashbourne.
The site is 4km (2.4 miles) from Swords and will eventually have a population of about 10,000.
Members of Fingal County Council decided by 17 votes to six to accept the local area plan for the Oldtown/Mooretown area, which will open the way for the development of 3,400 family homes, a local shopping centre, a regional park and other infrastructural facilities.
The enclave will also have three or four primary schools, as well as a secondary school. The decision to proceed with the development has been welcomed by Gannon Developments, which has owned most of the land for 12 to 14 years.
Architects Conroy Crowe Kelly are to lodge a planning application in October or November for the first phase of the housing scheme.
Approval of the local area plan will allow Gannon to develop 2,800 family homes as well as a 2,500sq m (26,910sq ft) shopping complex.
Bank loans given to Gannon Developments, including those for the Swords lands, were recently transferred to Nama. Contacted yesterday, Gerry Gannon, the head of the company, said the adoption of the local area plan for its landholdings in Swords was “a good decision for me and a good decision for Nama”.
Pamela Gill of Conroy Crowe Kelly said the master plan for the new neighbourhood would be based on the key principles of good design, high quality public facilities, ease of movement and diversity.
Oldtown and Mooretown would be distinct character areas focused on natural features such as the archaeological parks or on one of two new neighbourhood centres. One of the hubs will include the schools, a community hall and shopping facilities.
Gannon is planning to provide a wide mix of house sizes to accommodate people at all stages of their lives, with the emphasis on the provision of two, three and four-bedroom family-oriented homes.
The development company is handing over 75 acres for a regional park planned for the northwest corner of Oldtown. There are also plans to enhance Rathbeale Archaeological Park, which was rediscovered in 2003 when ancient skeletal remains were uncovered.
Extensive archaeological work and historical evidence has confirmed that a circular complex was laid out after the 7th century and remained in use for a considerable time. The site is known locally as “the bone field”.
