Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

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

8.2 Cumulative Effects Cumulative effects are one of the types of effects which have been considered by the assessment of the alternatives. Cumulative effects can be described as the addition of many small impacts to create one larger, more significant, impact. There are two types of potential cumulative effects that have been considered, namely:  Potential intra-Plan cumulative effects - these arise from the interactions between different types of potential environmental effects resulting from a plan, programme, etc. Where there are elevated levels of environmental sensitivities (such as those identified under Section 4), future development could result in environmental conflicts and lead to a deterioration in environmental integrity. The interrelationships between environmental components that help determine these potential effects are identified on Table 8.4 e.g. interrelationships between: human health and water quality; human health and air quality; human health and flood risk; and ecology and water quality.  Potential inter-Plan cumulative effects - these arise when the effects of the implementation of one plan occur in combination with those of other plans, programmes, developments, etc. Effects that may arise as a result of implementing the Plan have been mitigated to the extent that the only residual adverse effects likely to occur as a result of implementation of the Plan are those which are identified under Table 8.2. Other policies, plans and programmes that have been considered by the assessment of effects include those which are detailed under Section 2.5 (and associated Appendix I ‘‘Relationship with Legislation, Plans and Programmes’’), Section 4 and Section 5. Plans and programmes from various sectors will interact with the Plan, including those relating to land use planning. These plans and programmes are subject to their own environmental assessment requirements as relevant. Examples include:  Land use policy, plans and programmes (e.g. the National Planning Framework, the Southern Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and associated Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan, adjoining County Development Plans and Local Area Plans);  Cork City Local Economic and Community Plan and the Local Economic and Community Plans of adjoining counties;  Energy policy, plans and programmes (e.g. Grid25 and associated Implementation Programme, Ireland’s National Renewable Energy Action Plan 2010, Strategy for Renewable Energy 2012- 2020, Draft National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 and the Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework);  Climate related policy, plans and programmes (e.g. the National Climate Policy Position and Climate Action 2014, Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and White Paper Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015, Climate Action Plan 2019, the National Adaptation Framework 2018, and the Cork City Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019 and Climate Action Charter 2019);  Water services, waste management, transport and energy infrastructure plans (e.g. Irish Water’s Water Services Strategic Plan and associated Capital Investment Plan, Southern Regional Waste Management Plan and the Cork Metropolitan Area Transportation Strategy); and  Environmental protection and management plans (e.g. River Basin Management Plan and Flood Risk Management Plans). Potential cumulative/in combination effects include:  Contributions towards reductions in travel related greenhouse gas and other emissions to air, reductions in consumption from non-renewables and associated achievement of legally binding targets (in combination with plans and programmes from all sectors, including energy, transport and land use planning) as a result of facilitating: o sustainable compact growth;

CAAS for Cork City Council