In addition, Cork City Council will consider, where appropriate, further measures to incorporate planning and design-related measures that fall outside the Building Regulations and incorporate energy performance improvements in existing buildings subject to there being no conflict with other policy objectives relating to design, conservation and heritage.
Renewable and Low Carbon Energy in Buildings
5.29 In supporting the compact, connected and sustainable growth of Cork City to 2028, all development proposals are encouraged to consider the use of renewable energy infrastructure from the project inception stage. This should as a minimum include the exploration of roof-top solar photovoltaic panels, solar thermal collector panels and ground or air source heat pumps but depending on the locational circumstances and nature of the development proposal, there will be opportunities to consider other forms of renewable and low carbon energy generation. Sustainable Energy Generation – Standalone Projects 5.30 The national emissions reductions targets set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 will necessitate multifaceted strategies to decarbonise the energy sector. The MaREI Report, ‘Our Climate Neutral Future Zero by 50’ (March 2021) forecasts that for the sector to reach zero net carbon emissions by 2050, approximately 25 GW of renewable electricity capacity by 2050 compared to the 4.5 GW capacity today. 5.31 Therefore, in addition to supporting renewable and low carbon energy as a component part of development schemes, the development of standalone renewable/low carbon energy projects will be supported at appropriate locations where there will be no significant adverse impacts on the receiving environment in terms of amenity, flood risk and water quality, transport safety (including air travel), built, natural and cultural heritage, biodiversity and landscape character.
Waste Management and Adaptable Buildings
5.26 In reducing our impact on the climate and
environment, we must seek to also reduce waste in the construction and operation of developments. This extends to designing buildings to be sufficiently flexible to be enable them to be adapted to suit revised needs in the future without having to demolish and start again. Waste management, including the circular economy (where materials remain in use at their highest value for the longest period of time and are then recycled or reused, thereby minimising the volume of residual waste) is addressed in greater detail in Chapter 9 Environmental Infrastructure. Renewable and Low Carbon Energy 5.27 In transitioning away from our reliance on fossil fuels and moving towards a carbon neutral society, we must explore the use of renewable and low carbon energy technologies. Within a Cork City context, this will predominantly comprise renewable and/or low carbon energy measures to support development proposals by virtue of the prevailing urban setting. Standalone proposals will also be considered in appropriate locations in accordance with the policy objectives below and the contents of Chapter 9 Environmental Infrastructure and Chapter 11 Placemaking and Managing Development. 5.28 Renewable and low carbon energy generation can take a number of forms including, but not limited to wind; solar; geothermal; hydro; air, water and ground source heat pumps; biomass; and energy from waste.
149
Cork City Draft Development Plan 2022-2028
Volume 1 I Chapter 5
Powered by FlippingBook