Shopping centres, business campuses, new housing estates and county council offices. There seems to be no end to development in the north Co Dublin town of Swords. Now designated the county town of Fingal County Council, up to 450 people will move to the new impressive county council offices smack bang in the centre of Swords next June. Meanwhile, Swords Business Campus has just opened and building work on the new Pavilion shopping centre and a multiplex cinema is due to begin soon.
New houses have been in short supply in the Swords area in the last few years because of inadequate sewerage system. However, an extension to the present sewage treatment works is due for completion at the end of this year. While most new housing to date has been concentrated in the north and north-west of the town, the new development plan has rezoned land for residential use to the east and south-east, according to Mark Walsh, principal officer of planning and development at Fingal County Council. Houses close to the town centre in Carlton Court and Highfields are popular. And houses in the older estates, such as River Valley, and former council houses are still affordable to first-time buyers, selling for between £115,00 and £140,000. Swords will reach the size of Dundalk within the next 10 years, according to Tony Lambert, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce. Its present population stands at about 34,000.
Proximity to the airport has been Swords's primary asset in terms of location. While Motorola is the most prominent industry in the town, there are several hightech and pharmaceutical companies in the area, including Sonopress, Marconi, Bayer Ireland and Swords Laboratories. There are five primary schools and four post-primary schools in Swords, all of which are currently at almost full capacity. "The Holy Family primary school in the River Valley estate has one of the largest primary campuses in Ireland," says Mr Lambert. Transport issues are being addressed. A Quality Bus Corridor to the city centre is set for completion next year. The LUAS light rail link to the airport may also be extended to Swords.
The traffic flow in the town centre has recently been slowed down by a narrowing of the main street and the insertion of several pedestrian crossing areas. Traffic is still busy - and set to get even busier - as the number of shopping outlets continues to grow and attract new customers, many of whom are arriving by car. Traffic flow through the town centre should ease when the M1 gives Swords a new bypass thus allowing the present bypass on the N1 to be used for local traffic. Dublin Bus is also in discussion with the developers of the Pavilion shopping centre, to establish a bus intercharge.
