The community of Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford, has called on the expertise of urban design students to draw up a plan for the development of their village.
The community says it is determined not to make the same mistakes as other villages accessible to Dublin and in the sights of developers.
The Kilmuckridge Community Enhancement Group, established to make sure the village progresses in a sustainable way, asked urban design students at the school of architecture in University College Dublin to assist.
After months of consultation, concept design and detailed planning, the students presented their plan to the community of Kilmuckridge this week.
Conor Norton, co-director of the UCD class, said the students - qualified town planners, architects and engineers - brought together a wide range of skills.
"The purpose is to provide the local community with a framework in which Kilmuckridge can grow, consolidate and become a better place," he said.
In practice this means giving an idea of how ad-hoc development can be managed and improving the village for pedestrians.
There is a focus on the Ford, the centre of Kilmuckridge, and upgrading the roads, buildings and "trying to re-create a small, village space".
"We have been lucky with the community in Kilmuckridge," Mr Norton said. "They have organised the residents very well to turn up at meetings. I have never seen such a high attendance for such a small population.
"Members of the community met the UCD group in a series of intense creative meetings. The students also visited the schools whose contribution showed remarkable imagination and straight thinking."
Mr Norton said people were invigorated and excited.
"It will bring traffic calming, it will create a central village area, a community centre, coffee shops, cycle paths and more trees to make Kilmuckridge a real green village and bring a real sense of community and pride in the village."
Mary Colbert of the community group said yesterday the community wanted to develop a "lovely, classy and welcome place" in Kilmuckridge.
The group intends to take the design plan to Wexford County Council so it can contribute to the plan's implementation.