SEA Environmental Report Appendix III: Non-Technical Summary
4.3 Summary of Assessment and Selected Alternative Having carried out a spatial assessment of the implications of the Plan that would be provided for by Alternative 1 “City Wide Growth Scenario” and the other alternatives, taking account of the higher-level NPF and Southern RSES objectives and the need to comply with the densities set out in Ministerial Guidelines, including those related to the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2009) and Urban Development and Building Heights (2018), the Council confirm that Alternative 1 “City Wide Growth Scenario” as applied, would contribute towards proper planning, environmental protection and management and sustainable development to a significant degree less than Alternatives 2 and 3. The scenario allows for significant expansion into the existing city hinterland through the provision of low to medium densities. This scenario does not maximise the significant potential to deliver more appropriate densities to further justify the objective and projects identified in CMATS, particularly the light rail transport. Due to the extent of expansion proposed, this scenario also has greater potential negative impacts in terms of climate change, green and blue infrastructure management, the need for new physical and social infrastructure and the successful delivery of a compact, vibrant city of neighbourhoods. Having carried out a spatial assessment of the implications of the Plan that would be provided for by Alternative 2 “Transport Orientated Development Scenario” and the other alternatives, taking account of the higher-level NPF and Southern RSES objectives and the need to comply with the densities set out in Ministerial Guidelines, including those related to the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2009) and Urban Development and Building Heights (2018), the Council confirm that Alternative 2 “Transport Orientated Development Scenario” as applied, would contribute towards proper planning, environmental protection and management and sustainable development to a significant degree less than Alternative 3. The scenario achieves compact growth by focusing future development within areas that are highly accessible to frequent public transport services. The scenario is particularly successful in delivery high densities that can be used to justify the delivery of an LRT for the city in a shorter time frame than is set out in CMATS (post 2031). The compact nature of growth proposed also helps mitigate potential impacts in terms of climate change, green and blue infrastructure management and the reduced need for new physical and social infrastructure. However, this scenario is less successful in enhancing the existing wide range of neighbourhoods and towns to create a vibrant city of neighbourhoods. This scenario also primarily focuses on delivering higher density living, requiring an immediate and significant shift away from current average housing densities delivered in Cork City over the last 20 years. Having carried out a spatial assessment of the implications of the Plan that would be provided for by Alternative 3 “Compact Liveable Growth Scenario” , taking account of the higher-level NPF and Southern RSES objectives and the need to comply with the densities set out in Ministerial Guidelines, including those related to the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2009) and Urban Development and Building Heights (2018), the Council confirm that Alternative 3 “Compact Liveable Growth Scenario” as applied, would contribute towards proper planning, environmental protection and management and sustainable development more than Alternatives 1 and 3. The scenario achieves compact growth by primarily focusing future development within strategic sites, such as City Docks, sites located within the rich existing network of neighbourhoods, urban towns and hinterland settlements in the city and a number of expansion sites adjoining the city. The scenario focuses on developing areas accessible to frequent public transport services, delivering a range of increased densities that justify the delivery of an LRT, BusConnects routes and the Greenways as set out in CMATS. The compact nature of growth proposed also helps mitigate potential impacts in terms of climate change, green and blue infrastructure management and the reduced need for new physical and social infrastructure. This scenario is successful in enhancing the existing wide range of neighbourhoods and towns to create a vibrant city of neighbourhoods. The increased densities proposed in this scenario are challenging, requiring a stepped shift away from current average housing densities delivered in Cork City over the last 20 years. The selected alternative for the Draft Plan is Alternative 3 “Compact Liveable Growth Scenario” .
CAAS for Cork City Council
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