Appropriate Assessment of the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
effects to European Sites include Objectives 9.1 31 and 9.7 32 . Similarly, emissions to air have potential to adversely affect the conservation status of European sites; however, the Draft Plan contains policies and objectives - such as Strategic Objective 8: Environmental Infrastructure 33 and Objective 9.17 34 – which account for this. Increased development pressures could place additional loadings onto the existing waste water treatment plant facilities. Section 4 of the SEA provides information on waste water treatment capacity, indicating there is additional significant capacity available within the existing infrastructure at most of the main plants. Additionally, provisions provide broader scope to ensure the protection of the wider landscape associated with riparian zones and habitats sensitive to hydrological interactions; such as Paragraph The Plan includes provisions that potentially conflict with climate mitigation and provisions that will help to contribute towards climate mitigation. Paragraph No. 6.63 provides that “No plans, programmes, etc. or projects giving rise to significant cumulative, direct, indirect or secondary impacts on European sites arising from their size or scale, land take, proximity, resource requirements, emissions (disposal to land, water or air), transportation requirements, duration of construction, operation, decommissioning or from any other effects shall be permitted on the basis of this Plan (either individually or in combination with other plans, programmes, etc. or projects) 37 .” Greenhouse gas emissions arising from the Plan will not affect changes projected to arise from climate change to the degree that it would affect the QIs or SCIs of the European Sites considered. 31 (a) To work with Irish Water to ensure the efficient and sustainable use and development of water resources and water services infrastructure in the City. (b) To work with Irish Water to identify and facilitate the timely delivery of water and wastewater projects in order to facilitate development in accordance with the Core Strategy. (c) To work with Irish Water in promoting water conservation and demand management measures among users and support the implementation of measures such as leakage reduction and network improvements. (d) To support Irish Water in the development and implementation of the National Water Resources Plan and Drinking Water Safety Plans. (e) To support Irish Water in the promotion of effective management of trade discharges to sewers in order to maximise the capacity of existing sewer networks and minimise detrimental impacts on sewage treatment works. 32 (a) To ensure the delivery of the relevant policies and objectives of The River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018 – 2021 and any subsequent plan, including those relating to protection of water status, improvement of water status, prevention of deterioration and meeting objectives for designated protected sites. (b) To support Irish Water in its implementation of Water Quality Management Plans for ground, surface, coastal and estuarine waters as part of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and in the development of Drinking Water Protection Plans. (c) To support the provision of mitigation and protection measures for all protected areas, including Drinking Water Protected Areas and associated Source Protection Plans in line with the Water Framework Directives and River Basin Management Plans. 33 To ensure the efficient and sustainable use of water services infrastructure. To enhance water quality and water resource management. To sustainably manage waste generation and treatment. To support circular economy principles. To improve air quality and levels of pollution in the urban and hinterland areas of Cork City. To promote the pro-active management of noise. To support the investment and delivery of environmental infrastructure to serve the compact growth of Cork City, including water and waste water services, digital infrastructure, renewable energy and environmental improvements. Nos. 11.220 35 and 11.222 36 . 4.3.1.6 Climate change Proposals for new development in Cork City will not be permitted where they would have an unacceptable detrimental impact on water resources or infrastructure, water quality or air quality, have inadequate waste management mitigation, generate excessive noise or otherwise have an unacceptable detrimental impact on the environmental infrastructure of Cork City. 34 (a) To protect and improve air quality in Cork City in accordance with the provisions of EU Directives and national legislation on air pollution and support the actions of the City Council’s Air Quality Strategy 2021-2026, when it is finalised and its successors. (b) To continue to monitor air quality results submitted from selected locations throughout the City in co-operation with the Environmental Protection Agency and support the creation of a regional air quality and greenhouse gas emissions inventory. 35 Development proposals in or adjoining watercourse corridors should: (1) Preserve the biodiversity value of the area subject to Ecological Assessment by a suitably qualified Ecologist. (2) Not involve landfilling, diverting, culverting or realignment of river and stream corridors. (3) Not have a negative effect on the distinctive character and appearance of the waterway corridor and the specific characteristics and landscape elements of the individual site and its context. (4) Protect and enhance wetland areas. (5) In new major development locations, preferably retain and protect existing riparian habitats while providing parks in waterside locations to maximise the potential linkages between landscape, natural heritage and recreational opportunity. 36 Development proposals should protect watercourses in accordance with Inland Fisheries Ireland’s “Planning for Watercourses in the Urban Area” including the protection of riparian sections of rivers and streams, where possible, as set out below. Existing development will be taken into account. (1) Protection of the streamside zone, (within 15m of riverbanks); (2) Utilisation of outer riparian buffer zone (>8m) for treatment and reduction of stormflow runoff; (3) Minimal disturbance of the corridor 15-30m from the river; (4) Explore opportunities for river corridors for access and use as local amenity; and (5) Encourage riparian buffer strips on agricultural land. 37 Except as provided for in Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, viz. There must be: a) no alternative solution available, b) imperative reasons of overriding public interest for the project to proceed; and c) Adequate compensatory measures in place.
CAAS for Cork City Council
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