Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028

7.3

Detailed Assessment of Alternatives

7.3.1 Effects Common to all Alternatives Each of the alternatives would be part of a wider Plan envisaging – in compliance with the robust policy framework in place at national, regional and local level – sustainable development and compact growth in Cork City generally. As such, common environmental effects (as detailed on Table 7.2) would be present under Plans adopting each of the different alternatives, though to varying degrees. Table 7.2 Effects common to Plans adopting each of the different alternatives Environmental Component Significant Positive Effect, likely to occur Potentially Significant Adverse Environmental Effects, if unmitigated Biodiversity and Flora and Fauna

Arising from both construction and operation of development and associated infrastructure:  Loss of/damage to biodiversity in designated sites (including European Sites and Wildlife Sites) and Annexed habitats and species, listed species, ecological connectivity and non-designated habitats; and disturbance to biodiversity and flora and fauna;  Habitat loss, fragmentation and deterioration, including patch size and edge effects; and  Disturbance (e.g. due to noise and lighting along transport corridors) and displacement of protected species such as birds and bats.  Potential adverse effects arising from flood events.  Potential interactions if effects arising from environmental vectors.

 Contribution towards protection of ecology (including designated sites, ecological connectivity, habitats) by facilitating development of lands (including those within and adjacent to the City Centre and the City’s suburbs) that have relatively low levels of environmental sensitivities and are served (or can be more easily served) by infrastructure and services, thereby helping to avoid the need to develop more sensitive, less well- serviced lands elsewhere in the City and beyond.  Sustains existing sustainable rural management practices – and the communities who support them – to ensure the continuation of long-established managed landscapes and the flora and fauna that they contain.  Promotion of economic growth to encourage retention of working age population and funding of sustainable development and environmental protection and management.  Contribution towards appropriate provision of infrastructure and services to existing population and planned growth by facilitating compact development of lands (including those within and adjacent to the City Centre and the City’s suburbs) that are served (or can be more easily served) by infrastructure and services, thereby helping to avoid the need to develop less well- serviced lands elsewhere in the City and beyond  Contribution towards the protection of human health by facilitating development of lands (including those within and adjacent to the City Centre and the City’s suburbs) that have relatively low levels of environmental sensitivities and are served (or can be more easily served) by infrastructure and services, thereby helping to avoid the need to develop more sensitive, less well- serviced lands elsewhere in the City and beyond.  Contribution towards the protection of soils (including those used for agriculture) and designated sites of geological heritage by facilitating development of lands (including those within and adjacent to the City Centre and the City’s suburbs) that have relatively low levels of environmental sensitivities and are served (or can be more easily served) by infrastructure and services, thereby helping to avoid the need to develop more sensitive, less well-serviced lands elsewhere in the City and beyond.  Contribution towards the protection of water by facilitating development of lands (including those within and adjacent to the City Centre and the City’s suburbs) that have relatively low levels of environmental sensitivities and are served (or can be more easily served) by infrastructure and services, thereby helping to avoid the need to develop more sensitive, less well- serviced lands elsewhere in the City and beyond.

Population and

Human

Health

Soil

 Potential adverse effects on the hydrogeological and ecological function of the soil resource, including as a result of development on contaminated lands.  Potential for riverbank and coastal erosion.

 Potential adverse effects upon the status of water bodies and entries to the WFD Register of Protected Areas (ecological and human value), arising from changes in quality, flow and/or morphology.  Increase in flood risk and associated effects associated with flood events.

Water

CAAS for Cork City Council