Howth Urban Centre Strategy Fingal County Council

2.0 Howth in Context
2.4.10 Building Orientati on
THE VILLAGE CORE
The buildings along the Main Street, Abbey Street and Harbour
Road off er many acti ve frontages to the public realm, with most
accommodati ng shops and commercial acti vity at ground fl oor level.
Gaps in the building line off er access and views into laneways, which
are a disti ncti ve local feature. These include laneways primarily to the
west of Main Street that includes the Haggard, Seaview Terrace and
Tuckett ’s Lane. Along the northern edge of Church Street high walls
contributes to an inacti ve frontage with poor visual connecti ons to the
sea.
THE HARBOUR AREA
The formal linear block layout of the West Pier with buildings parallel
to the public realm creates a strong frontage. In some areas the use
of high fences and walls contributes to an inacti ve street frontage.
The rear elevati ons of these buildings which are highly visible from
Claremont Beach present an inacti ve frontage to the coastline.
HOWTH ROAD
Within this area buildings are generally set in rows facing the street.
Some properti es have medium-large front gardens. The high boundary
wall associated with the Techrete site along the northern edge of the
Howth Road presents an inacti ve street frontage. Opportuniti es exist
here to open up this area visually and physically to integrate it more
positi vely into the existi ng public realm.
Along Harbour Road and Main Street buildings positi vely front the street
Within the Harbour Area, the use of high fences and tall planti ng contributes to an inacti ve street frontage
Along Howth Road buildings front the street with open setbacks
Howth Urban Centre Strategy
24