Volume 1 Written Statement

Chapter 1: Introduction 1
1.10 The Council will ensure that any plan/project and any associated works in the city, individually or in
combination with other plans or projects, are subject to Appropriate Assessment Screening to ensure
there are no likely significant effects on the integrity (defined by the structure and function) of any Natura
2000 site(s) and that the requirements of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive are fully
satisfied. Where a plan/project is likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site or there is
uncertainty with regard to effects, it shall be subject to Appropriate Assessment. The plan/project will
proceed only after it has been ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site or where,
in the absence of alternative solutions, the plan/project is deemed imperative for reasons of overriding
public interest, all in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive.
Ministerial Guidelines
1.11 The policies and objectives of the Minister contained in guidelines issued to Planning Authorities
regarding their functions under the Planning Acts were considered in the making of this Plan, and have
been implemented in the various chapters, in accordance with Section 28 of the Planning and
Development Act 2000 (as amended). Appendix A contains the required statement relating to this Plan
to demonstrate compliance with this requirement.
Structure of the Plan
1.12 The Development Plan is presented in four Volumes:
Volume 1: Main Policy Document,
Volume 2: Zoning and Objectives Maps
Volume 3: Built Heritage Objectives.
Volume 4: Strategic Environmental Assessment, Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and
Appropriate Assessment Screening Report
1.13 In Volume 1, Chapters 1 and 2 set out the goals and core strategy for the city. The following chapters 3-
12 set out policies, objectives and actions under a range of topic headings. Chapters 13 and 14 deal with
area-specific policies in the City Centre, Docklands and the Suburbs, while chapter 15 sets out land-use
zoning objectives, which are illustrated in Volume 2. The area based policies need to be read in
conjunction with both the earlier topic based chapters and the Development Management principles set
out in Chapter 16.
1.14 Volume 3 contains the detailed Built Heritage objectives – The Record of Protected Structures (RPS), the
Record of Monuments and Places (RMP), Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) and Protected Views
and Prospects.
1.15 The Cork Authorities Joint Housing Strategy comes in a separate volume and constitutes an appendix to
the City Plan. The strategy is summarised in Chapter 6.
1.16 The three volumes of the plan proper are accompanied by Volume 4 which contains the Strategic
Environmental Assessment and the Appropriate Assessment of the Plan.
Draft Cork City Development Plan 2015-2021
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