Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

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

8.4 Members’ Amendments and Environmental Consequences The preparation of a Chief Executive’s Draft Plan, for the consideration of Members in advance of public display was informed by the SEA, AA and SFRA processes. Advice relating to Members’ Motions to amend the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan was provided to the Members for their consideration in advance of agreeing amendments. Taking into account, inter alia, the advice on Motions and the SEA, AA and SFRA documentation for the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan, the Members agreed to amend the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan by resolution. An earlier version of this SEA Environmental Report was updated to take account of these amendments. Motions that were advised against, subsequently agreed upon as amendments to the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan and which would have elevated potential for significant environmental effects are addressed on Table 8.3 below. Mapping of the locations and details of the zonings associated with these amendments are provided at Appendix II. Table 8.3 Amendments advised against which would have elevated potential for significant environmental effects

Assessment

Proposed Amendment Reference Number – see details at Appendix II

29, 30, 33 and 34

These amendments to the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan were adopted in the absence of any established planning justification. The amendments would present additional, currently unjustified, and therefore unnecessary, potentially significant adverse effects on various environmental components. Potentially significant adverse effects, alone and/or in- combination with other similar changes alterations to zoning, would be likely to include:  Loss of an extent of soil function arising from the replacement of semi-natural land covers with artificial surfaces  Conflict with efforts to maximise sustainable compact growth and sustainable mobility  Conflicts with the status of ground and surface waters  Occurrence of adverse visual impacts  Greater challenges in providing adequate and appropriate infrastructure – and potential associated interactions It is possible that planning justification for one or more of these Amendments may emerge during the public consultation process.  Effects on ecology and ecological connectivity

8.5 Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment (AA) and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) are being undertaken alongside the preparation of the Draft Plan. The requirement for AA is provided under the EU Habitats Directive (Directive 1992/43/EEC). The AA assesses the effects of the Plan on European Sites designated for certain habitats and species. The emerging conclusion of the AA is that the Plan will not affect the integrity of the Natura 2000 network 62 .

62 Except as provided for in Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, viz. There must be: (a) no alternative solution available; (b) imperative reasons of overriding public interest for the plan/programme/project to proceed; and (c) adequate compensatory measures in place.

CAAS for Cork City Council