SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
Commentary The assessment of the Plan’s Core Strategy against Strategic Environmental Objectives (SEOs BFF, PHH, S, W, MA, A, C, CH and L) is consistent with the: Environmental effects detailed under subsections 8.2 to 8.7 of this report; and Assessments of the selected alternatives for the Plan provided at Section 7 of this report.
Implementing the Plan will help to direct incompatible development away from the most sensitive areas in the City and focus on directing: compact, sustainable development within and adjacent to the existing built-up footprint of the City, including its surrounding settlements; and sustainable development elsewhere. Development of areas within and adjacent to the existing built-up footprint, which are generally more robust, better serviced and better connected, will contribute towards environmental protection and sustainable development, including climate mitigation and adaptation. Compact development can be accompanied by placemaking initiatives to enable the City to become a more desirable place to live – so that it can sustainably accommodate new residents and maintain and improve services to existing and future communities. Compatible sustainable development in the City’s sensitive areas is also provided for, subject to various requirements relating to environmental protection and management being met. The provisions in this Chapter of the Plan would contribute towards the Statutory consent granting and decision-making framework for land use developments and activities, and sustainable development of the City, in combination with other Plan provisions and other plans, programmes, strategies, etc. Potential adverse environmental effects arising from land use development and activities include in-combination effects arising from services and infrastructure to service development, for example those relating to water services, transport and energy. The SEA process that has been undertaken alongside the preparation of the Draft Plan has brought about various changes to the emerging Plan through an iterative process. Some of these measures are reproduced under Section 9 “Mitigation Measures” of this report. By integrating SEA recommendations into the Plan, Cork City Council is helping to ensure that: The potential significant adverse effects of implementing the Plan, in combination with implementation of other provisions from the Plan and other plans, programmes, etc., are avoided, reduced or offset; and The beneficial environmental effects of implementing the Plan, in combination with implementation of other provisions from the Plan and other plans, programmes, etc., are maximised. The Core Strategy and Settlement Strategy would contribute towards sustainable development and the protection and management of the environment – examples of important Objectives for the environment include those relating to “United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”, “Climate and Environment”, “Green and Blue Infrastructure, Open Space and Biodiversity”, “Environmental Infrastructure” and “SEA Monitoring”. 8.8.3 Chapter 3: Delivering Homes and Communities
No Likely interaction with status of SEOs
Mitigated Conflicts
Probable Conflict with status of SEOs – unlikely to be mitigated
Likely to Improve status of SEOs BFF PHH S WMA A C CH L
BFF PHH S W MA A C CH L
Delivering Homes and Communities Development Objectives Strategic Objective 2: Delivering Homes and Sustainable Neighbourhoods
To increase the population of Cork City in line with the Core Strategy. To deliver sustainable, liveable, integrated communities and neighbourhoods. To ensure that new homes are provided at appropriate densities in brownfield, infill and greenfield locations within and contiguous to existing City footprint identified in the Core Strategy, and aligned with transport, community and social infrastructure. To ensure that new homes are provided with a good mix of accommodation types and sizes to meet the needs of all members of society. To achieve a higher quality of life for Cork City’s communities, promoting healthy living, wellbeing and active lifestyles. To ensure that placemaking is at the heart of all development to create attractive, liveable, well-designed, safe, secure and welcoming, high-quality urban places. To promote the concept of a 15-minute city focused on inclusive, diverse and integrated neighbourhoods served by a range of homes, amenities, services, jobs and active and public transport alternatives. Proposals for new development will demonstrate how placemaking is at the heart of the development and how the development will contribute to the local neighbourhood. Objective 3.1 Planning for Sustainable Neighbourhoods Cork City Council will seek to: (a) Utilise the Urban Towns, Hinterland Villages and City Neighbourhoods as spatial units to develop sustainable neighbourhoods, employing the 15-Minute City concept; (b) Require development proposals to put placemaking at the heart of their design concept and clearly demonstrate how neighbourhood integration and enhancement is central to this; (c) Plan for communities in accordance with the aims, objectives and principles of ‘Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas’ and the accompanying ‘Urban Design Manual – A Best Practice Guide’, and any updates. (d) Ensure that an appropriate level of supporting neighbourhood infrastructure is provided in conjunction with, and as an integral component of, residential development in New Sustainable Neighbourhoods. (e) Undertake a Cork City Neighbourhoods Strategy during the lifetime of the Plan to identify strategic gaps in the provision of services / infrastructure / resources within neighbourhoods; (f) Create healthy and attractive places to live consistent with NPO 4 of the NPF and Goal 3: Sustainable Place Framework of the RSES. Objective 3.2 A Diverse, Inclusive and Equal City Cork City Council will seek to ensure that ensure that Cork is an inclusive City and meets the needs of the City through by: (a) Providing a land use planning system that ensures an appropriate distribution of land uses, infrastructure and services to give equal access to all residents to live, work, educate, recreate and avail of other services in terms of range and quality;
CAAS for Cork City Council
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