Appropriate Assessment of the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
exist and are likely to continue to exist for the foreseeable future, and the conservation status of its typical species is favourable’. Generic Conservation Objective for SACs: To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the Annex I habitat(s) and/or the Annex II species that the SAC has been selected. Generic Conservation Objective for SPAs: To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA. 4.3.1 Types of Potential Effects Assessment of potential adverse effects on European Sites is conducted utilising a standard source- pathway model (see approach referred to under Sections 1.3 and 3). The 2001 European Commission AA guidance outlines the following potential changes that may occur at a designated site, which may result in effects on the integrity and function of that site: loss/reduction of habitat area; habitat or species fragmentation; disturbance to key species; reduction in species density; changes in key indicators of conservation value (e.g. water quality); and climate change. Each of these potential changes are considered below and in Table 4.1 with reference to the QIs/SCIs of all of the European Sites brought forward from Stage 1 of the AA process (see Section 3). 4.3.1.1 Loss/Reduction of Habitat Area The Plan provides for development across the City with specific areas identified to facilitate more intensive development in these areas. As identified above the City has one European Site within its boundaries; therefore, there is potential for effects to European Sites as a result of the Plan; however, several mitigation measures have been integrated into the Plan to ensure that its implementation will not result in the loss of any habitat necessary for the ecological integrity of any European Site, such as Objectives 6.5 11 , 6.9 12 , 6.15 13 , 6.20 14 , 6.22 15 , 6.23 16 and 6.24 17 . These provisions ensure that there will be no loss of habitat or supporting habitat for species that are necessary to maintain the ecological integrity of European sites throughout the lifetime of the Plan. 11 (a) To protect and enhance the City’s tree and urban woodlands in public and private ownership. Cork City Council will seek to survey, map and maintain existing important individual and groups of trees, using Tree Preservation Orders as appropriate. (b) To encourage the planting of new urban woodlands and trees where appropriate throughout the City and particularly where there are deficiencies in tree coverage as identified in the Cork City Green and Blue Infrastructure Study. (c) To support the preparation of a City Tree Strategy which provides a vision for long-term planting, protection and maintenance of trees, hedgerows and woodlands. (d) To support retaining existing trees and the planting of new trees as part of new developments subject to care on the species of tree and the siting and management of the trees to avoid conflict with transport safety and residential amenity in particular. (e) To promote the planting of pollinator friendly native deciduous trees and mixed forestry to benefit biodiversity. 12 (e) To discourage proposals necessitating the removal of extensive amounts of trees, hedgerows and historic walls or other distinctive boundary treatments. 13 (a) To protect the character of those views and prospects obtainable from scenic routes identified in this Plan. (b) To require those seeking to carry out development in the environs of a scenic route to demonstrate that there will be no adverse obstruction or degradation of the views towards and from vulnerable landscape features. In such areas, the appropriateness of the design, site layout, and landscaping of the proposed development must be demonstrated along with mitigation measures to prevent significant alterations to the appearance or character of the area. 14 (c) To support the development of active recreation infrastructure (including outdoor and indoor facilities) in Cork’s City Parks while also ensuring the continued improvement of their passive recreational offer, natural setting and biodiversity credentials. 15 (a) To protect, promote and enhance Cork City’s natural heritage and biodiversity. (b) To support the implementation of the National Biodiversity Plan and the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and successor publications in Cork City. (c) To support and implement the biodiversity actions from the Cork City Heritage and Biodiversity Plan (2021-2026) in partnership with all relevant stakeholders. (d) Cork City Council will seek to establish and use a City biodiversity database, accessible across all council departments for consideration in land management decision-making. (e) Cork City Council will seek the enhancement of existing, and the delivery of new, biodiversity-rich areas throughout the City including individual buildings, streets, public and private spaces by supporting the provision of green roofs and walls, rain gardens, biodiversity-rich parklets, rainwater harvesting, natural banks and naturalised SUDS. (f) Cork City Council will seek, where appropriate, to enhance the linear habitat connectivity, including the interconnection and enhancement of: • Aquatic, marginal and bank side habitats. • Parks, playing fields and recreational areas. • Upstream of mapped flood zones. • City transport routes. 16 To protect and enhance designated sites and areas of natural heritage and biodiversity and the habitats, flora and fauna for which it is designated, and to protect, enhance and conserve designated species 17 Cork City Council will seek to map the City’s ecological networks and corridors of local biodiversity value outside of designated areas, and to work with local stakeholders in supporting the effective management of features which are important for wild flora and fauna and habitats. • Woodlands, gardens, open spaces, fields and hedgerows. • Coastal habitats, river catchments, lakes, streams, ponds.
CAAS for Cork City Council
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