Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

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

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

 Any increased loadings as a result of development to comply with the River Basin Management Plan.  Flood related risks remain due to uncertainty with regard to extreme weather events – however such risks will be mitigated by measures that have been integrated into the Plan.  Exceedance of capacity in critical infrastructure risks remain, including due to uncertainty with regard to climate – however, such risks will be mitigated by: measures, including those requiring the timely provision of critical infrastructure, and compliance with the Water Framework Directive and associated River Basin Management Plan.  Residual wastes to be disposed of in line with higher-level waste management policies.  Any impacts upon public assets and infrastructure to comply with statutory planning/consent-granting framework.

 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.

 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.  Contributions towards the protection of water resources including the status of surface and groundwaters and water-based designations.  Contribution towards flood risk management and appropriate drainage.  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 compliance with national and regional water services and waste management policies.  Contribution towards increase in renewable energy use by facilitating renewable energy and electricity transmission infrastructure developments.  Contribution towards limits in increases in energy demand from the transport sector by facilitating sustainable compact growth.  Contribution towards reductions in average energy consumption per capita including promoting sustainable compact growth, sustainable mobility, sustainable design and energy efficiency.

Water

Material Assets

 Failure to provide adequate and appropriate waste water treatment (water services infrastructure and capacity ensures the mitigation of potential conflicts).  Failure to adequately treat surface water run-off that is discharged to water bodies (water services infrastructure and capacity ensures the mitigation of potential conflicts).  Failure to comply with drinking water regulations and serve new development with adequate drinking water (water services infrastructure and capacity ensures the mitigation of potential conflicts).  Increases in waste levels.  Potential impacts upon public assets and infrastructure.  Interactions between agriculture and soil, water, biodiversity and human health - including phosphorous and nitrogen deposition as a result of agricultural activities and the production of secondary inorganic particulate matter.

CAAS for Cork City Council