Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Report

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028

Introduction and Policy Background

1.1 Introduction and Terms of Reference Cork City Council has prepared the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 hereafter referred to as the “Draft Plan”. The preparation of the Draft Plan is undergoing an appropriate level of Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) in accordance with The Planning System and Flood Risk Management - Guidelines for Planning Authorities (Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Office of Public Works, 2009) and Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government Circular PL 2/2014. The SFRA provides an assessment of flood risk and includes mapped boundaries for Flood Risk Zones. The SFRA in an ongoing process, alongside the Plan-preparation process, and will be updated to take into account, for example, any new information or any future changes to the Draft Plan on foot of submissions. 1.2 Summary of Conclusion and Recommendations The purpose of this document is to detail the findings of the SFRA that is being undertaken alongside the preparation of the Draft Plan. The SFRA has informed the Draft Plan and enables compliance with the Flood Risk Management Guidelines. All SFRA recommendations – including those related to land use zoning and flood risk management provisions – have been integrated into the Draft Plan. 1.3 Flood Risk and its Relevance as an Issue to the Plan 1.3.1 Flood Risk Flooding is an environmental phenomenon and can pose a risk to human health as well as causing economic and social effects. Some of the effects of flooding are identified on Table 1 below. Certain lands within the City have the potential to be vulnerable to flooding and this vulnerability could be exacerbated by changes in both the occurrence of severe rainfall events and associated flooding. Local conditions such as low-lying lands and slow surface water drainage can increase the risk of flooding. Table 1 Potential effects that may occur as a result of flooding

Tangible Effects

Intangible Human and Other Effects

Damage to buildings (houses) Damage to contents of buildings Damage to new infrastructure e.g. roads

Loss of life Physical injury Increased stress

Loss of income

Physical and psychological trauma Increase in flood related suicide

Disruption of flow of employees to work causing knock on effects Enhanced rate of property deterioration and decay

Increase in ill health

Long term rot and damp

Homelessness Loss of uninsured possessions

CAAS for Cork City Council