SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
Topic
Potentially Adverse Unmitigated
Significant
Recommendations integrated into the Plan, included in:
Effect,
if
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 6.5 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. (c) To support the preparation of a City Tree Strategy which provides a vision for long-term planting, protection and maintenance of trees, hedgerows and woodlands. (d) To support retaining existing trees and the planting of new trees as part of new developments subject to care on the species of tree and the siting and management of the trees to avoid conflict with transport safety and residential amenity in particular. (e) To promote the planting of pollinator friendly native deciduous trees and mixed forestry to benefit biodiversity. Objective 6.6 Rivers, Waterway and Wetlands (a) To protect and maintain the integrity, and maximise the potential, of the natural heritage and biodiversity value of rivers, associated watercourses and wetlands in Cork City, and to (b) To promote an integrated approach to optimising opportunities associated with rivers, waterways and wetlands generate biodiversity, recreation, tourism, and economic benefits. Objective 6.22 Natural Heritage and Biodiversity (a) To protect, promote and enhance Cork City’s natural heritage and biodiversity. (b) To support the implementation of the National Biodiversity Plan and the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and successor publications in Cork City. (c) To support and implement the biodiversity actions from the Cork City Heritage and Biodiversity Plan (2021-2026) in partnership with all relevant stakeholders. (d) Cork City Council will seek to establish and use a City biodiversity database, accessible across all council departments for consideration in land management decision-making. (e) Cork City Council will seek the enhancement of existing, and the delivery of new, biodiversity-rich areas throughout the City including individual buildings, streets, public and private spaces by supporting the provision of green roofs and walls, rain gardens, biodiversity-rich parklets, rainwater harvesting, natural banks and naturalised SUDS. (f) Cork City Council will seek, where appropriate, to enhance the linear habitat connectivity, including the interconnection and enhancement of: • Woodlands, gardens, open spaces, fields and hedgerows. • Coastal habitats, river catchments, lakes, streams, ponds. • Aquatic, marginal and bank side habitats. • Parks, playing fields and recreational areas. • Upstream of mapped flood zones. • City transport routes. Objective 6.23 Designated Sites and Protected Species To protect and enhance designated sites and areas of natural heritage and biodiversity and the habitats, flora and fauna for which it is designated, and to protect, enhance and conserve designated species. Objective 6.24 Information to be considered for development affecting designated sites To ensure that development proposals affecting designated sites have regard to the sensitivities identified in the SEA Environmental Report prepared in respect of this Plan. Objective 6.25 Non-designated Areas of Biodiversity Importance Cork City Council will seek to map the City’s ecological networks and corridors of local biodiversity value outside of designated areas, and to work with local stakeholders in supporting the effective management of features which are important for wild flora and fauna and habitats. Objective 6.26 Alien Invasive Species To support the implementation of measures to control and prevent the introduction, establishment or spread of ecologically damaging alien invasive species (e.g. Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam). Paragraph 6.62 “As with all Plan provisions, Objectives in this Section will be implemented subject to compliance with the Habitats and Birds Directives and other ecological protection objectives” Paragraph No. 6.63 “No plans, programmes, etc. or projects giving rise to significant cumulative, direct, indirect or secondary impacts on European sites arising from their size or scale, land take, proximity, resource requirements, emissions (disposal to land, water or air), transportation requirements, duration of construction, operation, decommissioning or from any other effects shall be permitted on the basis of this Plan (either individually or in combination with other plans, programmes, etc. or projects) 66 .” Paragraph 6.64 “Any agricultural or fishing/aquaculture activities related developments or would be considered subject to compliance with the Habitats and Birds Directives and in consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland as relevant”.
Disturbance (e.g. due to noise and lighting along transport corridors) and displacement of protected species such as birds and bats.
66 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 project to proceed; and c) Adequate compensatory measures in place.
CAAS for Cork City Council
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