SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
Inner-city residential; Sub-urban residential; Urban sylvan character; and
Urban industrial/commercial/Institutional.
4.13 Landscape 4.13.1 Introduction
4.13.3 Areas of High
Landscape Value and Landscape Preservation Zones
Article 1 (a) of the European Landscape Convention provides a definition of landscape as follows; “Landscape means an area, as perceived by people whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural/or human factors”. The importance of landscape and visual amenity and the role of its protection are recognised in the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, which requires that Development Plans include objectives for the preservation of the landscape, views and the amenities of places and features of natural beauty. The visual character of Cork City is due to its variety of landscapes and rich and diverse built and cultural heritage. Built around estuarine islands in the valley of the River Lee, Cork City is shaped by its rolling landscape, waterways and a rich mix of natural, built and cultural heritage. The Lee Valley runs through the centre of the City giving rise to steep hills to the north and to the south. The Lee Estuary flows into Cork Harbour to the east of the City. 4.13.2 Landscape Character Assessment The European Landscape Convention was ratified in Ireland in 2002, this required EU Member States to adopt national measures to promote landscape, planning, protection and management. The purpose of landscape character assessment is to provide the foundation for policy formulation and decision making for landscape management. The Cork City Council Landscape Study (2008) 57 identified seven Landscape Character Areas, within the City, shown on Figure 4.20 and listed below:
Cork City Council seeks to protect and enhance the landscape character of the City by protecting the significant landscape elements that contribute to the general amenity of Cork City. Areas of High Landscape Value and Landscape Preservation Zones (shown on Figure 4.21) are identified in the Plan and must be considered when assessing planning applications. Areas of High Landscape Value display an intrinsic landscape character and a special amenity value. Landscape Preservation Zones are areas in need of special protection as their character and amenity value is considered to be to highly sensitive to development.
4.13.4 Other Landscape Designations 58
Panoramic viewing locations are accessible to the public and facilitate views of Strategic Landmark Buildings/Strategic Cityscapes and Strategic Landscapes. Strategic and local landmark buildings have been identified so that linear views of these buildings can be protected through the management of development. Strategic landmark buildings are those that are widely appreciated due to their visual prominence and the role that they play in helping people to orientate themselves within the City. Local landmark buildings are important within the City’s neighbourhoods due to their local visual prominence. Rivers corridors provide expansive views of the City and rural areas, and include views from quays, bridges and riverbanks.
Estuarine/Riverine; Natural harbour; Historic urban core;
57 This Study referred to the pre-2019 City area, and Cork City Council will undertake a revised landscape study that
addresses the entirety of the administrative area including the urban towns, villages and suburbs. 58 Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
CAAS for Cork City Council
59
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