Urban Drainage and Green and Blue Infrastructure 5.37 As climate change and the impacts from climate change gradually become more severe and unpredictable, we can expect more heavy rainfall events and more periods of extended heatwaves and drought. Cork City Council will seek to promote measures to climate-proof buildings and the wider city to better manage stormwater and solar gain, reduce impacts on biodiversity and create a more liveable and environmentally sustainable city overall as outlined below. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems and Nature Based Solutions 5.38 Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) comprise a series of water management measures designed to reduce and manage surface water (rainwater) in an environmentally sustainable way. When implemented correctly, SuDS not only help reduce the risk of localised flooding but also help to alleviate downstream flood risk. SuDS that incorporate nature-based solutions (NBS) such as green roofs, rainwater harvesting, swales, filter strips, and attenuation ponds offer the additional benefit of creating habitat and biodiversity betterment, improving water quality and greening our city. In an Irish context, the use of SuDS is still in its infancy, but the National Planning Framework (NPO 57) promotes integrated SuDS, permeable surfacing and green roofs. 5.39 There are multiple SuDS measures that can be utilised depending on site-specific circumstances. 5.40 SuDS strategies will not be uniform and will differ from site to site owing to site characteristics, loca- tion and existing constraints, such as contamination risk. In addition, some NBS solutions may not be
appropriate in some cases due to the risk of trans- porting contamination. Care is also needed to avoid a concentration of large attenuation ponds in the vicinity of Cork Airport to reduce the risk of flocks of birds congregating. 5.41 The benefits of incorporating rainwater harvesting measures into buildings is twofold; it can assist in storing stormwater during periods of peak rainfall and reduce flows of stormwater from entering combined sewers or watercourses and secondly, it offers an accessible water resource for use in gardening, washing vehicles etc. as a more sustainable alternative to using potable water, particularly when there is strain on supply during droughts. Rainwater harvesting represents a SuDS measure, but it has wider benefits in helping to conserve water. Best practice guidance on SuDS is contained in the CIRIA SuDS Manual 2015. 5.42 Chapter 9 Environmental Infrastructure addresses water management and Objective 9.4 lists the requirements relating to SuDS that applies to all new development.
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Cork City Draft Development Plan 2022-2028
Volume 1 I Chapter 5
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