Directive 2012/18/EU (Seveso III) was transposed into Irish legislation through S.I. No. 209 of 2015 Chemicals Act (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 201527, which came into effect on 1 st June 2015. The purpose of the COMAH Regulations is to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances, and to seek to limit as far as possible the consequences of such accidents on human health and the environment. One of the requirements of the COMAH Regulations is that the Health and Safety Authority shall advise the relevant planning authority of a consultation distance for a Seveso III establishment, following the receipt of a notification from the operator, and shall periodically review and update the consultation distance as necessary. The Directive provides that appropriate consultation distances must be put in place to ensure that before decisions are taken, technical advice is available to planning authorities in respect of relevant establishments. The Health and Safety Authority provides such advice, where appropriate, in respect of planning applications within a certain distance of the perimeter of these sites. Dangerous substances are classified as toxic, flammable/explosive or dangerous for the environment. Threshold quantities are specified in the legislation for named substances, categories of substances and groups of categories. There are two categories of major accident establishments; Upper Tier and Lower Tier. These are defined based on the volume of the dangerous substances present. The Health and Safety Authority provides advice where appropriate, in respect of planning applications within a certain distance of the perimeter of these sites. Such technical advice will be taken into account when considering applications for planning permission, on and within the vicinity of Seveso sites. There are currently 6 sites located within the Cork City Council administrative area, namely Upper Tier: 1. Calor Teoranta, Tivoli, Cork; 2. Flogas Ireland Ltd., Tivoli Industrial Estate, Cork; 3. Grassland Agro, Carrigrohane Road, Cork; and Lower Tier: 4. Chemical Bulk Storage Ltd., Tivoli Industrial Estate, Cork; 5. Goulding Chemicals Ltd., Centre Park Road, Cork; and 6. Irish Oxygen Co. Ltd., Waterfall Road, Cork. Seveso III sites represent a significant constraint to realising the full development potential of the city, particularly with respect to Docklands and Tivoli. Their relocation to suitable locations outside the city is desirable. Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 contain a number of objectives across a range of chapters which guide the sustainable development of the County and seek to minimize risks to human health. The main objective is Objective 9.21 Seveso in Chapter 9 Environmental Infrastructure.
No such risks are identified as arising from the Draft Plan at this stage.
All planning policy has been set within Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 and its associated SEA and AA. This Development Plan requires development(s) to taking account of the Major Accidents Directive (Seveso Directive) and the possible impact on public health and safety. The Draft Plan will not create any risks to human health or the environment. It is a High-Level Goal (HLG1) to achieve health and well-being for all. The Draft Plan includes objectives to improve the quality and availability of health services and to provide a safe and secure environment for all (see Annex A below).
the magnitude and spatial extent of the effects (geographical area and size of the population likely to be affected).
36
Powered by FlippingBook