Client:
Cork City Council
Date:
March 2024
Project Title: Cork City LECP 2024-2029 Document Title: Appropriate Assessment Screening Report
Document Issue: draft
• the ecological characteristics of the species or habitat, including their structure, function, conservation status and sensitivity to change; and/or • the character, magnitude, duration, consequences and probability of the impacts arising from land use activities associated with the plan, in combination with other plans and projects. This Screening Report for Appropriate Assessment has been undertaken in accordance with respective National and European guidance documents: Appropriate Assessment of Plans and Projects in Ireland: Guidance for Planning Authorities (DEHLG 2010) and Assessment of Plans and Projects Significantly Affecting Natura 2000 sites – Methodological Guidance of the Provisions of Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC; Office of the Planning Regulator – OPR Practice Note PN01: Appropriate Assessment Screening for Development Management (2021) , and recent European and National case law . The following guidance documents were also of relevance during the preparation of this Screening Report: • Appropriate Assessment of Plans and Projects in Ireland – Guidance for Planning Authorities (2010). DEHLG. • Assessment of Plans and Projects Significantly Affecting Natura 2000 Sites – Methodological Guidance of the Provisions of Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive 92/42/EEC. European Commission (EC) (2021). • Managing Natura 2000 Sites – The provisions of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. European Commission (2018). The EC (2021) guidelines outline the stages involved in undertaking a Screening Report for Appropriate Assessment for projects. The methodology adopted during the preparation of this Screening Report is informed by these guidelines and was undertaken in the following stages: 1. Describe the project and determine whether it is necessary for the conservation management of European Sites;
2. Identify European Sites that could be influenced by the project;
3. Where European Sites are identified as occurring within the zone of influence of the project identify potential effects arising from the project and screen the potential for such effects to negatively affect European Sites identified under Point 2 above; and 4. Identify other plans or projects that, in combination with the project, have the potential to affect European Sites . A desk study was carried out to collate information available on Natura 2000 sites within the potential zone of influence of the proposed Plan. The Site and the surrounding area were viewed using satellite imagery. Cork City Council planning portal was accessed for information on other permitted and proposed Plans within the zone of influence of the project. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) website was accessed for information on Natura 2000 sites. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Maps were accessed for other environmental information relevant to preparation of this report. 1.1.4 Zone of Influence The ‘zone of influence’ for a project is the area over which ecological features may be affected by biophysical changes as a result of the proposed plan and associated activities. This is likely to extend
7
Powered by FlippingBook