Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
Arup Consulting Engineers
Aspects such as the level of traffic on a road, the location of footpaths/cycle-paths, or the
nature of any crossings/junctions to be negotiated are of particular importance when
assessing amenity, as are the number and types of journeys affected. Changes in the
amenity of a journey can also affect journey patterns which are dealt with under the
heading of Journey Characteristics.
In addition, environmental impacts that affect the pleasantness of journeys, such as
pollution, noise and visual impacts, can also affect the quality of life of people living in
the vicinity. So too can impacts on particular community facilities and recreational sites.
Although interactions exist between journey amenity or quality of life impacts and other
physical impacts, these impacts do have a socio-economic dimension. Quantification of
their specific magnitude may be dealt with in other sections of the EIS.
Included, in the definition of community facilities are golf courses. Newlands Golf Club
is a specific amenity that is located in the study area. Potential impacts on the golf club,
as they affect both its business and its role as a community facility, are identified and dealt
with below under each of the impact headings.
13.2.1.5 Economic Impacts
Economic and employment impacts will occur at both regional and local levels, and can
be either positive or negative. These impacts are difficult to quantify, at least in the case
of road development. Much road development is proposed with the intention of
improving the business environment, particularly in relation to reducing journey time and
improving journey time reliability for commercial goods or for travel and commuting by
employees. However, there can also be negative impacts in relation to loss of passing
trade to businesses such as newsagents, grocery stores, filling stations and guest houses.
Here, ‘Slight’ impacts are broadly defined as those to which a small effect on the business
environment can be attributed to the Scheme. ‘Moderate’ economic impacts are defined
as those to which a somewhat greater effect on the business environment can be
identified. ‘Significant’ impacts would be such as to substantially affect business
performance or to influence the location decisions of new business. In that businesses
require employees, there are implications for employment and for settlement patterns and
residential development.
13.2.2 Existing Environment
13.2.2.1 Demographic Profile
Population growth in west Dublin corresponds to a well-documented outward expansion
of the city in response to local employment opportunities in commercial estates and
business parks, such as Citywest, together with the search for more affordable housing on
the periphery of the city. Suburbs such as Lucan have experienced considerable
demographic growth over the last ten years. Expansion has also extended to County
Kildare and towns to the west such as Naas and Newbridge. This population growth,
together with the expansion of local businesses in line with Leinster’s economic growth,
has contributed to a significant increase in traffic, including commuter traffic.
December 2007 Page 205