Appendix Full - Fingal County Council

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LANDSCAPE GROUPS Your Fingal – Written Statement LG1 NORTHERN COASTAL STRIP Description This group is located north of Balbriggan. It consists of a coastal section with a low but prominent headland and an inland section west of the N1 which is on higher ground. The area east of the railway is zoned an area of High Amenity due to its visibility on the coast. The remainder is designated as a sensitive landscape. The higher ground inland has been substantially developed with one off and grouped housing, some of which is obtrusively sited. There are good views from this area to the coast to the north extending up to the Mourne Mountains. The area is visible from the adjoining lower lying lands. It will be prominent in views from the newly constructed M1. Sensitivity Coastal Section This will be sensitive to most built development including residential, hotel, agricultural shed, forestry, and health care facilities. Built development related to recreational uses should be minimal. Inland Section As above but mast proposals should be resisted. LG2, LG3 AND LG4 - NORTH FINGAL UPLANDS Description These areas comprise the 'North Fingal Uplands' The highest point in the county is located in LG 3 at Knockbrack 176 metres OD this is slightly higher than the Ben of Howth at 171 metres OD. The 3 grouped areas are closely related and together form a visual ridge to the north of the County. There are a number of important visual ridges on these uplands which are visible over a wide area of Fingal and Meath. There are spectacular views from the roads in LG3 extending from the Wicklow Mountains in the south to the Mourne Mountains in the north and out to Lambay Island to the east. Almost the whole county can be seen from the higher roads. The character of the uplands is very attractive in its own right with a mixture of pasture and arable farming combined with strong hedgerows on a rolling topography. There is little obtrusive or inappropriate development in the area and there is a pronounced absence of any substantial deciduous or coniferous woodland. Sensitivity Given the height of the ridge lines relative to the surrounding countryside it is likely to be difficult to locate any built development in these areas without it becoming unduly obtrusive. Views of the upper elevations of the uplands are available from long distances and over a wide area of the surrounding lower lying countryside. Panoramic views are available from the uplands to the surrounding areas. These views should be protected. Rural uses such as houses, forestry, masts, extractive operations, landfills, and large agricultural units have the potential to give rise to substantial impacts. 5
6 Your Fingal – Written Statement/Draft LG 5 - SKERRIES HINTERLAND Description This is a large and important landscape on the north coast. It provides a setting for Skerries, a substantial town and harbour. Skerries is the most important marine centre on this section of the Fingal Coast. It includes fishing operations, recreational facilities (2 beaches), and is a commercial centre. In contrast with the flatter landscape to the north (LG1), there is a pronounced ridge of higher ground running some distance to the west of the coast. This contributes to a more dramatic character which is emphasised by views to the offshore islands. An important component of the coastal fringe are 3 estate landscapes; Hampton, Ardgillan, and Milverton. In the broader landscape they provide substantial blocks of mature trees which are important in the quality and character of this section of the coast. Sensitivity The elevated nature of the ground both gives expansive views of the coast and the offshore islands and ensures that this ground is very visible from the coast itself. The ridge is also visible from the west and is thus sensitive to the effects of development on views from this aspect. The setting and character of Loughshinney are particularly sensitive and could easily be damaged by inappropriate development. Rural uses such as houses, forestry, masts, extractive operations, landfills, and large agricultural units have the potential to give rise to substantial impacts. LG6 - RUSH Description The coastal area around Rush is noted for the extensive horticultural industry and a seaside resort popular with day trippers from adjoining areas. This section of the coast is flatter than the section around Skerries further north and is a link between these more robust coastlines and the lower-lying more subtle landscapes of the Rogerstown, Malahide, and Portmarnock Estuaries. The area south of the Main Street is characterised by multiple small horticultural bases small holdings which are serviced by a confusing network of small laneways. Development in this are is a mixture of glasshousing, market gardening, caravans, permanent dwellings, seaside huts, chalets and disused plots. There has been considerable residential development in the area in recent years in the form of single homes. The North Beach area is characterised by caravan parks, wooden chalets/huts and some single permanent dwellings Sensitivity The conversion of the largely redundant huts, shacks, and caravans/mobile-homes to substantial residential properties presents a considerable threat to this subtle coastal landscape particularly in the North Beach area. Ongoing development of glass-houses will fit the existing character of the area and should reinforce the horticultural use of the land which is important in the character of the area. The development of any large warehousing facilities in these coastal areas would be difficult to successfully integrate into the coastal landscape. Large scale golf developments would also be difficult to insert into this landscape. LG 7 - ROGERSTOWN ESTUARY Description The low-lying estuarine landscape of Rogerstown with its sand spits, salt-marshes, mud flats and substantial tidal changes is a unique and special landscape. Despite its proximity to development and major traffic corridor and a substantial landfill it offers a sense of solitude and quiet that is not to be found in Malahide or Portmarnock estuaries. The estuary is sub-divided by the Dublin-Belfast railway line. Immediately west of the railway is the Balleally landfill which is now reaching a height that makes it visible over a wide area of the adjoining low lying land. The landscape west of the railway line has a more rural character and is visually severed from the open estuary. As with Rush mentioned above there is a substantial number of seaside shacks and huts on the Burrow area of Portrane.
Page 1 and 2: Appendix A Record of Protected Stru
Page 3 and 4: 2 Your Fingal - Written Statement/D
Page 11 and 12: 10 Your Fingal - Written Statement/
Page 21 and 22: Appendix B Landscape Character Asse
Page 25: 4 Your Fingal - Written Statement/D
Page 31 and 32: Appendix C Specific Design Criteria
Page 39 and 40: Appendix D Guidelines for Works in
Page 45 and 46: Appendix E Housing Strategy for the
Page 69 and 70: Your Fingal - Written Statement/Dra
Page 71 and 72: Your Fingal - Written Statement/Dra

Appendix Full - Fingal County Council

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