Claremont Howth
At Howth’s coastal gateway a former industrial site has been reimagined as a bright, welcoming neighbourhood that opens the town’s outer edge to the sea.
Sitting on 2.68 hectares of former brownfield land, the development weaves urban energy and landscape to create a place for everyday life: 512 thoughtfully designed homes, new shops and community facilities, and generous public spaces that invite everyone in. The masterplan is organised around six slender finger blocks running north–south, which frame a raised seaside walkway. This elevated promenade lifts people above the railway line and restores uninterrupted views to Ireland’s Eye and the Irish Sea, creating a new public route where the coast can be enjoyed after decades of obscured views. Below the walkway, south‑facing podium courtyards provide sunlit communal gardens for residents.
At ground level the scheme establishes a careful sequence of public spaces. Moving east to west, a new gateway to Howth Village with shops and cafés transitions through a civic plaza linking street to waterfront, then into a riparian parkland where the formerly culverted Bloody Stream has been opened and celebrated, before flowing into a public park with a playground. The public realm prioritises permeability and encourages spontaneous use throughout the day.
At street level, own‑door duplex units address Howth Road as a terrace, activating the pavement and reducing the perceived scale of the taller blocks behind. The composition steps down in height and scale as it approaches the historic town centre, so the new buildings form a sensitive gateway to the village.
The 512 homes — a mix of studios, one‑, two‑ and three‑bed apartments — are arranged to maximise daylight and outlook.
Every home benefits from a balcony or terrace. Residents have access to generous communal facilities including a gym and lounges that look out over the sea. Movement by sustainable modes is prioritised, with 1,335 cycle spaces, a restrained car parking ratio of 0.7 spaces per unit and EV charging provision in the underground car park.
The material palette responds honestly to the coastal setting: robust brickwork in complementary tones, horizontal bands of brick or stone, marine‑grade metalwork and gently radiussed brick corners produce a calm, enduring façade that will age gracefully in salt air. Above the buildings, 7,230 sqm of green roofs soften the skyline when viewed from Howth Head and contribute to biodiversity across the site. Landscape‑led Sustainable Drainage Systems are integrated into the riparian strategy.
The scheme delivers a strong sustainability performance, achieving a BER A2 rating and Home Performance Index accreditation alongside high airtightness. With a gross floor area of 48,252 sqm, the development accommodates 2,637 sqm of retail space and a 236 sqm creche, while public and communal open space comfortably exceeds planning standards.
