Chapter 5 I Climate Change and the Environment
5.54 In the context of new buildings and the retrofitting or extension of existing buildings, there will be greening opportunities through the use of green roofs or green walls. In addition to helping to enhance the visual appearance of buildings, green roofs and walls provide climate adaptation benefits that include helping to reduce flows of stormwater, absorbing some stormwater and improving the quality of the stormwater run-off, offering insulation and thermal efficiency potential, helping to improve air quality and absorb carbon and providing biodiversity opportunities. 5.55 Although the use of green roofs may not be suitable in all cases and preference will be given to solar photovoltaic/thermal panels where there is conflict, all development proposals with flat or gently sloping rooflines, including garages, bin storage and bike storage sheds, will be encouraged to incorporate green roofs as part of an integrated SuDS strategy as per Objective 9.4 in Chapter 9 of the Develop- ment Plan. 5.56 In considering and implementing the climate and environment focused policy objectives contained in this Chapter and other Chapters of the Develop- ment Plan, applicants for large scale residential and commercial development proposals will be required to submit a Scheme Sustainability Statement with their planning application demonstrating how the proposals address the objectives (See Chapter 11 Placemaking and Managing Development). Cross-Cutting Climate Change and Environment Policy Objectives 5.57 Tackling climate change and environment degra- dation is an underlying theme of this Development Plan. Table 5.1 summarises the key policy objectives that play a key role in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
5.52 Through careful planning and implementation to maximise its potential, GBI offers the following non-exhaustive list of opportunities in the context of climate change and combating degradation of the environment: • Provision of a better-connected network of attractive, safe green spaces and corridors to entice people to walk and cycle and reduce reliance on car use; • A Nature Based Solution to absorb, attenuate and filter flows of surface water (rainwater); • Sequestration of carbon / air quality improvements; • Protection and enhancement of biodiversity; and • Urban cooling and micro-climate mitigation. 5.53 In addition to protecting existing and providing more strategic GBI spaces as part of an integrated network, Cork City is committed to ensuring GBI provision and benefits are realised throughout the City by embedding high quality green and blue spaces at the heart of all neighbourhoods. As part of this strategy, individual development proposals must also seek to incorporate green and blue spaces to our built environment and embrace opportunities to connect with existing GBI networks.
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Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 I Volume 1
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