The masterplan concept is to create an attractive, lively, safe, secure, and identifiable urban precinct, which will link the existing Town Centre with the new peripheral development to the West. The main retail centre is arranged around a curved glazed street linking the principal routes on the site. This street is set over two levels on this sloping site to innovatively achieve, effectively, two “ground floor level” streets to allow accessibility from all sides of the site. In the Internal Glazed Streets, daylighting is a paramount concern and continuous roof glazing is provided to give the sense of being outdoors although one is under cover.. Community services/retail facilities independent of the main retail centre are located on the external perimeter organised to address a crescent shaped road which runs through the site, and together with the civic spaces they provide activity and interest onto the adjoining streets
High quality finishes including stone and extensive glazing are used on the buildings facing the major civic spaces to reflect the position of these places in the hierarchy
of the development and to give identity to the spaces. This is expressed at the main entrances as a large glazed ‘Lantern’ bay-window at the upper levels, which will have great views over the Irish Sea and the Mourne Mountains. Timber is used and reflects the boating and nautical heritage of Balbriggan.
