Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

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

Section 8 Evaluation of Plan Provisions

8.1 Introduction This section provides an assessment of environmental effects using the information on the current state of the environment (provided in Section 4) and the Strategic Environmental Objectives (see Table 8.1) from implementation of the Plan. The degree of significance of effects occurring cannot be fully determined at this level of decision making due to the lack of exact detail available with regard to the type or scale of development that will be permitted under the Plan. However, a strategic assessment can be undertaken. Table 8.1 Strategic Environmental Objectives 61 Environmental Component SEO Code Guiding Principle Strategic Environmental Objectives Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna BFF No net contribution to biodiversity losses or deterioration  To preserve, protect, maintain and, where appropriate, enhance the terrestrial, aquatic and soil biodiversity, particularly EU designated sites and protected species  Ensure no adverse effects on the integrity of any European site, with regard to its qualifying interests, associated conservation status, structure and function

 Safeguard national, regional and local designated sites and supporting features which function as stepping stones for migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of wild species  Enhance biodiversity in line with the National Biodiversity Strategy and its targets  To protect, maintain and conserve the City’s natural capital  Promote economic growth to encourage retention of working age population and funding of sustainable development and environmental protection and management  Ensure that existing population and planned growth is matched with the required public infrastructure and the required services  Safeguard the City’s citizens from environment-related pressures and risks to health and well-being  Protect soils against pollution, and prevent degradation of the soil resource  Promote the sustainable use of infill and brownfield sites over the use of greenfield sites  Safeguard areas of prime agricultural land and designated geological sites  Ensure that the status of water bodies is protected, maintained and improved in line with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive  Ensure water resources are sustainably managed to deliver proposed regional and City growth targets in the context of existing and projected water supply and wastewater capacity constraints ensuring the protection of receiving environments  Avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding and areas that are vulnerable to current and future erosion  Integrate sustainable water management solutions (such as SuDS, porous surfacing and green roofs) into development proposals  Optimise existing infrastructure and provide new infrastructure to match population distribution proposals  Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all which encourages a broad energy generation mix to ensure security of supply – wind, solar, hydro, biomass, energy from waste and traditional fossil fuels  Promote the circular economy, reduce waste, and increase energy efficiencies

PHH

Population and

Improve quality of life for all ages and abilities based on high-quality, serviced, well connected and sustainable residential, working, educational and recreational environments Ensure the long- term sustainable management of land Protection, improvement and sustainable management of the water resource

Human

Health

Soil

(and

Land)

Water

Material Assets

Sustainable and efficient use of natural resources

61 See also Section 5

CAAS for Cork City Council