Cork City Environmental Report Non-Technical Summary

SEA Environmental Report Appendix III: Non-Technical Summary

Section 5 Summary of Effects arising from Plan

The preparation of a Chief Executive’s Draft Plan, for the consideration of Members in advance of public display was informed by the SEA, AA and SFRA processes. Cork City Council have integrated various recommendations arising from the SEA, AA and SFRA processes into the Draft Plan (including those summarised at Section 6). Table 5.1 summarises the overall environmental effects arising from Draft Plan provisions. The effects encompass all in-combination/cumulative effects arising from implementation of the Plan. The potentially significant adverse environmental effects (if unmitigated) arising from implementation of the Plan are detailed as are residual effects, taking into account mitigation through both provisions integrated into the Plan – see summary at Section 6. Taking into account, inter alia , the detailed mitigation which has been integrated into the Plan, it was determined that significant residual adverse environmental effects will not occur. Advice relating to Members’ Motions to amend the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan was provided to the Members for their consideration in advance of agreeing amendments. Taking into account, inter alia, the advice on Motions and the SEA, AA and SFRA documentation for the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan, the Members agreed to amend the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan by resolution. An earlier version of this SEA Environmental Report was updated to take account of these amendments. Certain motions (Ref. No. 29, 30, 33 and 34) were advised against, subsequently agreed upon as amendments to the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan and would have elevated potential for significant environmental effects. These are mapping the main SEA Environmental Report appendices. In relation to these amendments, the SEA identifies that: These amendments to the Chief Executive’s Draft Plan were adopted in the absence of any established planning justification. The amendments would present additional, currently unjustified, and therefore unnecessary, potentially significant adverse effects on various environmental components. Potentially significant adverse effects, alone and/or in-combination with other similar changes alterations to zoning, would be likely to include:  Effects on ecology and ecological connectivity  Loss of an extent of soil function arising from the replacement of semi-natural land covers with artificial surfaces  Conflict with efforts to maximise sustainable compact growth and sustainable mobility  Conflicts with the status of ground and surface waters  Occurrence of adverse visual impacts  Greater challenges in providing adequate and appropriate infrastructure – and potential associated interactions It is possible that planning justification for one or more of these Amendments may emerge during the public consultation process.

CAAS for Cork City Council