SEA Environmental Report Appendix III: Non-Technical Summary
Section 4 Alternatives
4.1 Introduction The SEA Directive requires that reasonable alternatives (taking into account the objectives and the geographical scope of the plan or programme) are identified, described and evaluated for their likely significant effects on the environment. Based on the outputs of Cork City Capacity Study and other relevant supporting documents that directly inform the preparation of the Draft Plan, Cork City Council have identified three alternatives from an initial sift of the following four options: 1. City Wide Growth Strategy Option 2 has been discounted as this scenario is over reliant on the delivery of the light rail transport in the City, which is currently at the initial stage of design (route selection process). The construction and delivery of the light rail transport is a long-term project (post-2031) within the Cork Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (CMATS). Cork City Council assessed the three remaining alternatives for the Draft Plan, to determine whether or not they are available and appropriate, as detailed in Section 7. 4.2 Description of Alternatives Considered Alternative 1: City Wide Growth This alternative applies the densities allowable under the existing land uses zonings set out in the Cork City Development Plan 2015-2022 and the relevant zonings in the Cork County Municipal District Local Area Plans (2017). As such the alternative combines Cork City Councils and Cork County Councils current land use planning approach to the recently extended City Council area. This scenario gives a full understanding of the current land use planning approach for the current Cork City administrative area, as extended on May 2019. The yields from all extant planning permissions are accounted for. Where no extant planning permission exists an average density, assumption has been applied based on the relevant land use zoning objective. Alternative 2: Transport Orientated Development This alternative focuses on the key transport routes and land use areas identified in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transportation Strategy (CMATS). A Transport Orientated Development approach is applied to future land use planning, by maximising the provision of housing, employment, public services and leisure space within close proximity to existing and future transport nodes (e.g. rail and/or bus) that are serviced by frequent, high quality services. 2. Transport Orientated Development no.1 (applying narrow walking bands) 3. Transport Orientated Development no.2 (applying wider walking bands) 4. Compact Liveable Growth This alternative applies different densities at different locations, as appropriate; with higher densities where sustainable transport mode opportunities are planned for (e.g. light rail transport route). The yields from all extant planning permissions are accounted for. Alternative 3: Compact Liveable Growth This alternative seeks to develop Cork City as a compact, sustainable city of scale and the regional driver of growth by creating sustainable, liveable, integrated communities and neighbourhoods while ensuring that at least half (50%) of all new homes are delivered in the existing built up footprint. A tiered approach to land use zoning us applied ensuring that new homes are provided at appropriate densities in brownfield and infill locations and in greenfield locations within and contiguous to existing City footprint.
CAAS for Cork City Council
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