Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

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

Table 8.2 Overall Evaluation – Effects arising from the Draft Plan

Environmental Effects, in combination with the wider planning framework Effects include in-combination effects that are planned for through the wider planning framework including the NPF and associated NDP 2018, the Southern RSES and associated Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan, the Cork Metropolitan Area Transportation Strategy, adjacent Development Plans and lower-tier land use plans SEO Codes Significant Positive Effect, likely to occur Potentially Significant Adverse Environmental Effects, if unmitigated Likely Residual Adverse Non- Significant Effects

Environmental Component

BFF

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.

 Loss of an extent of non- protected habitats and species arising from the replacement of semi-natural land covers with artificial surfaces.  Losses or damage to ecology (these would be in compliance with relevant legislation).

 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.  Contribution towards the maintenance of existing green infrastructure and associated ecosystem services, listed species, ecological connectivity and non-designated habitats.  Contribution towards protection and/or maintenance of biodiversity and flora and fauna by contributing towards the protection of natural capital including the environmental vectors of air, water and soil. Biodiversity and flora and fauna includes biodiversity in designated sites (including European Sites and Wildlife Sites) and Annexed habitats and species (including birds and bats), listed/protected species, ecological connectivity and non-designated habitats (including terrestrial and aquatic habitats), and disturbance to biodiversity and flora and fauna – including terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity and flora and fauna.  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.

CAAS for Cork City Council