[ Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028, Section 15(2) Two-Year Progress Report ]
Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 and subsequent updates (at the time of writing the 2022-2027 River Basin Management Plan is still in Draft). While the majority of the monitored river waterbodies in Cork City are classified as ‘at risk’, there have been several steps undertaken to address this matter by Uisce Éireann in relation to mains rehabilitation works or strategic projects. The City Development Plan seeks to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems (Objective 6.6) and requires appropriate measures to accompany developments to address water quality and SUDS via a suite of objectives relating to green and blue infrastructure, water quality and biodiversity. Cork City Council liaises with Uisce Éireann in relation to its strategic planning functions, including the City Development Plan and framework plans prepared under its various area-based objectives, to ensure that water services and infrastructure are in place or planned for current and future strategic development areas. Objective 9.3 requires development to connect to watermains and wastewater infrastructure where these are available and discourages the provision of single house septic tanks and treatment plants to minimise groundwater pollution. SDG 7:
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Targets under this goal relevant to the City Development Plan: Target 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. Target 7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy are key contributing factors to achieving Cork City Council’s net zero ambitions. The City Development Plan’s central 15-minute city approach seeks a more compact form of development which reduces the demand for transport, contributing toward this goal. Objectives in chapters 5 and 9 of the City Development Plan promote renewable energy and the development of best practice approaches to identifying and assessing renewable energy sources. Objective 5.4 seeks coordinated regional action on climate change, and there is now a Celtic Hydrogen Cluster of six Cork-based organisations which aims to deploy green hydrogen infrastructure in the Cork Region. This is an important element that supports increased renewable electricity penetration. The City Development Plan includes objectives supporting a range of renewable energies, including solar, wind, geothermal, heat pumps and district heating. Cork City is limited by its predominantly urban setting for some renewable technologies, so while large-scale wind farms may not be suitable in Cork City, the City Development Plan supports and encourages small-scale wind energy developments. The City Development Plan includes objectives supporting the Cork City Climate Action Plan 2024-2029, which sets out how national policy relating to climate change adaptation and mitigation will be implemented at the local level. One of the five main themes of the Climate Action Plan relates to the built environment and energy, with a range of actions listed including the establishment of a Cork City Building Retrofitting and Renewables Task Force and a range of audits and assessments to ascertain the suitability of various renewables across the city. The Cork City Council Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Strategy is currently at draft stage and will be progressed in 2024. There are broad exemptions under planning regulations for the installation of renewable technologies including, and relevant in the case of Cork City, domestic solar installations.
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