SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
Climate Action provisions would contribute towards sustainable development and the protection and management of the environment. Various provisions in this Chapter contribute towards the framework for the development of energy. These Policies Objectives would contribute towards achieving various government objectives and targets including those relating to climate mitigation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the amount of energy to be consumed from renewable sources. The development of renewable energy would have the potential to adversely impact upon the environment, if unmitigated. Further general commentary on the types of potential effects arising from a range of renewable energy types is provided under section 8.8.9. Please also refer to Section 8.6 “Integration of Climate Action into the Plan”. 8.8.6 Chapter 6: Green and Blue Infrastructure, Open Space and Biodiversity
Probable Conflict with status of SEOs – unlikely to be mitigated
No Likely interaction with status of SEOs
Mitigated Conflicts
Likely to Improve status of SEOs
BFF PHH S W MA A C CH L
BFF PHH S W MA A C CH L
Strategic Biodiversity Goals (1) To protect and enhance designated areas of natural heritage and protected species and to adhere to all relevant biodiversity legislation; (2) To ensure that sites and species of natural heritage and biodiversity importance in non-designated areas are identified, protected and managed appropriately; (3) To create green and blue infrastructure network thereby creating ecological corridors linking areas of biodiversity importance; (4) To implement the recommendations of the GBI study and integrate green and blue infrastructure solutions into new developments; (5) To ensure all citizens are within 5km of a green and ideally wild space; (6) To protect and maintain the integrity and maximise rivers and watercourses within the city; (7) To protect and enhance the city’s trees and urban woodlands; and (8) To promote best practice guidelines for management, control and eradication of invasive alien species. To strengthen the green and blue infrastructure of Cork City. To protect and promote biodiversity and habitat connectivity and protect natural areas. To protect and enhance Cork City’s unique landscape character and maritime heritage. To ensure all of Cork City’s residents have access to open spaces, recreation and amenity facilities and natural areas. A strong green and blue infrastructure network is essential to the quality of life of Cork City’s residents and contributes towards the creation of places where people want to live and work. It is an objective of Cork City Council to achieve a healthy, green and connected City with high-quality and interconnected open spaces, parks, diverse natural areas and green and blue corridors. Proposals for new development in Cork City will respect and reflect the topography, landscape and ecology of the City, and will protect and enhance the City’s green and blue infrastructure by ensuring that development does not fragment existing networks of green and blue infrastructure. Proposals for new development will demonstrate how green and blue infrastructure, open space, sport and recreation, landscape and biodiversity are considered commensurate to the scale and context of the development in the development process. Large-scale developments will incorporate open spaces to contribute to the green and blue infrastructure in the City. Objective 6.1 Cork City Green and Blue Infrastructure Study and Strategy To manage, protect and enhance the Green and Blue Infrastructure assets of Cork City in line with the Cork City Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy set out in the Development Plan, and to support the actions, opportunities and projects identified in the Cork City Green and Blue Infrastructure Study 2021. Objective 6.2: Accessibility to the Green and Blue Infrastructure Network (a) Cork City Council will work with stakeholders in ensuring that green and blue infrastructure networks and spaces are accessible and safe for all. This includes seating, accessible toilet facilities, appropriate path gradients and surfacing, path widths and signage. (b) Cork City Council will seek that severance or impediments to green and blue infrastructure routes by development are avoided or overcome with appropriately designed schemes. Where an access route is disrupted by development, an alternative route shall be provided, except in exceptional circumstances. Objective 6.3 Access to Water Resources Cork City Council will seek to work with stakeholders in facilitating safe, improved accessibility to the water environment including the River Lee and Cork Harbour and encouraging uses which optimise the amenity, tourism, recreation and leisure opportunities associated with this blue infrastructure without adversely impacting on the day-to-day economic functions of these assets. Objective 6.4 Temporary Green and Blue Infrastructure Uses Where appropriate, support the use of temporary greening of sites awaiting development. Temporary greening shall make a positive impact to the local environment and overall amenity of the area, without prejudicing the effectiveness and viability for the longer-term use of the site, as set out in this plan. Objective 6.5 Trees and Urban Woodland (a) To protect and enhance the City’s tree and urban woodlands in public and private ownership. Cork City Council will seek to survey, map and maintain existing important individual and groups of trees, using Tree Preservation Orders as appropriate. (b) To encourage the planting of new urban woodlands and trees where appropriate throughout the City and particularly where there are deficiencies in tree coverage as identified in the Cork City Green and Blue Infrastructure Study. Green and Blue Infrastructure, Open Space and Biodiversity Development Objectives Strategic Objective 5: Green and Blue Infrastructure, Open Space and Biodiversity
CAAS for Cork City Council
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