Appropriate Assessment of the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
3.4 Other Plans and Programmes Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive requires an assessment of a plan or project to consider other plans or programmes that might, in combination with the plan or project, have the potential to adversely affect European Sites. Appendix II outlines a selection of plans or projects that may interact with the Plan to cause in-combination effects to European Sites. These plans / programmes / strategies were considered throughout the assessment. The Draft Plan sits within a hierarchy of statutory documents setting out public policy for, among other things, land use planning, infrastructure, sustainable development, recreation, environmental protection and environmental management, which have been subject to their own environmental assessment processes, as relevant. The Plan must comply with relevant higher-level strategic actions and will, in turn, guide lower-level strategic actions. The National Planning Framework (NPF) sets out Ireland’s planning policy direction for the years 2018- 2040. The NPF is to be implemented through Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) and lower tier Development Plans and Local Area Plans. The RSES for the Southern Region sets out objectives for land use planning, tourism, infrastructure, sustainable development, environmental protection and environmental management that have been subject to environmental assessment and must be implemented through the City Development Plan. As required by the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Draft City Development Plan is consistent with and conforms with national and regional Policy Objectives, plans and programmes, including the NPF and the RSES for the Southern Region. The City Development Plan may, in turn, guide lower-level strategic actions, such as Local Area Plans that will be subject to their own lower-tier environmental assessments. In order to be realised, projects included in the City Development Plan (in a similar way to other projects from any other sector) will have to comply, as relevant, with various legislation, policies, plans and programmes (including requirements for lower-tier Appropriate Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment and other licencing requirements as appropriate) that form the statutory decision-making and consent-granting framework. All projects within the Draft Plan area and receiving environment will be considered in combination with any and all lower tier projects that may arise due to the implementation of the Plan. Given the uncertainties that exist with regard to the scale and location of developments facilitated by the Draft Plan, it is recognised that the identification of in-combination effects is limited and that the assessment of in-combination effects will need to be undertaken in a more comprehensive manner at the project- level. Additional information on the relationship with other plans and programmes is provided at Appendix II. 3.5 AA Screening Conclusion The effects that could arise from the Plan have been examined in the context of several factors that could potentially affect the integrity of any European Site. On the basis of the findings of this Screening for AA, it is concluded that the Plan: Is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of any European Site; and May, if unmitigated, have adverse effects on the integrity on 2 (no.) European Sites. Therefore, a Stage 2 AA is required for the Plan (see Section 4 of this report). An AA Screening Determination undertaken by the planning authority is provided at Figure 3.2.
CAAS for Cork City Council
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