Chapter 5 I Climate Change and the Environment
Rainwater harvesting represents a SuDS measure, but it has wider benefits in helping to conserve water. Best practice guidance on SuDS is contained in the CIRIA SuDS Manual 2015. 5.50 Chapter 9 Environmental Infrastructure addresses water management and Objective 9.4 lists the requirements relating to SuDS that applies to all new development.
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems and Nature Based Solutions 5.45 Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) comprise a series of water management measures designed to reduce and manage surface water (rainwater) in an environmentally sustainable way. When implemented correctly, SuDS not only help reduce the risk of localised flooding but also help to alleviate downstream flood risk. SuDS that incorporate nature-based solutions (NBS) such as green roofs, rainwater harvesting, swales, filter strips, and attenuation ponds offer the additional benefit of creating habitat and biodiversity betterment, improving water quality and greening our city. In an Irish context, the use of SuDS is still in its infancy, but the National Planning Framework (NPO 57) promotes integrated SuDS, permeable surfacing and green roofs. 5.46 There are multiple SuDS measures that can be utilised depending on site-specific circumstances. 5.47 SuDS strategies will not be uniform and will differ from site to site owing to site characteristics, location and existing constraints, such as contamination risk. 5.48 In addition, some NBS solutions may not be appropriate in some cases due to the risk of transporting contamination. Care is also needed to avoid a concentration of large attenuation ponds in the vicinity of Cork Airport to reduce the risk of flocks of birds congregating. 5.49 The benefits of incorporating rainwater harvesting measures into buildings is twofold; it can assist in storing stormwater during periods of peak rainfall and reduce flows of stormwater from entering combined sewers or watercourses and secondly, it offers an accessible water resource for use in gardening, washing vehicles etc. as a more sustainable alternative to using potable water, particularly when there is strain on supply during droughts.
Green and Blue Infrastructure
5.51 Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) is a term used to describe the network of natural and semi-natural spaces in a given area. It is defined by its multi- functionality and wide-ranging benefits which are discussed at length within the Cork City Green and Blue Infrastructure Study (2021) and Chapter 6 Green and Blue Infrastructure, Open Space and Biodiversity of the Development Plan.
154
Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 I Volume 1
Powered by FlippingBook