Volume 1 Written Statement

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Volume One: Written Statement
The Strategic Vision for Cork City
1.4 The Draft Development Plan is based on achieving the following strategic vision for the development of
Cork City:
‘The vision for Cork City over the period of this Development Plan and beyond is to be a
successful, sustainable regional capital and to achieve a high quality of life for its citizens
and a robust local economy, by balancing the relationship between community, economic
development and environmental quality. It will have a diverse innovative economy, will
maintain its distinctive character and culture, will have a network of attractive
neighbourhoods served by good quality transport and amenities and will be a place where
people want to live, work, visit and invest in.’
Legislative Background
1.5 The Plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act
2000 (as amended). The Act sets out the mandatory requirements which must be included in a
Development Plan. These include, inter alia, objectives for the zoning of land, the provision of
infrastructure, the conservation and protection of the environment, and the integration of planning and
sustainable development with the social, community and cultural requirements of the area and its
population. The preparation of a Core Strategy consistent as far as practicable with the National Spatial
Strategy and the Regional Planning Guidelines is also required.
1.6 In accordance with European and National legislation the Plan Cork City Council carried out a Strategic
Environmental Assessment (SEA) and an Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Directive (AA),
and a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) which informed the Plan.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
1.7 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the process by which environmental considerations are
integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes. The SEA process was integrated into the
preparation of the Draft Cork City Development Plan and the Environmental Report is contained in Volume
4 of the Plan.
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)
1.8 In compliance with the Strategic Environmental Assessment process Cork City Council carried out a
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment of the objectives contained in the Draft City Development Plan. This
assessment is contained in Volume 4 of the Plan.
Appropriate Assessment (AA)
1.9 In accordance with requirements under the EU Habitats Directive (43/92/EEC) and the EU Birds Directive
(79/409/EEC) and Section 177 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, the impacts of
the policies and objectives of all statutory land use policies certain sites designated for the protection of
nature under European legislation, must be assessed as part of the process of drafting the Plan. This
process, known as a Appropriate Assessment, is to determine whether or not the implementation of the
plan policies or objectives could have negative consequence for the habitats or species for which these
sites are designated. This assessment is contained in Volume 4 of the Plan.
8 Draft Cork City Development Plan 2015-2021