Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
2. PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT
2.1 Introduction
This EIS has been prepared as part of the statutory development consent procedure having
regard to the European Community Environmental Assessment Directive 85/EEC/337 as
transposed into Irish Law by the Roads Acts 1993 1 (and subsequent amendments 23 ) and the
Regulations made thereunder, and the European Communities Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) Regulations 1989 – 2006 4 .
Arup Consulting Engineers
Under the Roads Act 1993 (as amended) and the Regulations made thereunder, a road
authority (in this case South Dublin County Council) is obliged to prepare an EIS – a
statement of the likely effects on the environment – in respect of the proposed development.
The proposed development must also be cognisant of planning policies and guidelines that are
relevant to the scope of the proposed development.
The development of Dublin’s road network was identified in the National Development Plan
as part of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme. As part of the
integrated transportation network servicing the capital city and its urban hinterland, the
proposed upgrade of the N7 Newlands Cross Junction falls within the scope of National,
Regional and Local planning policies as well as the expansion and development policies of the
South Dublin County Council. Planning and policy documents relevant to the proposed
scheme are:-
• National Development Plan 2000 – 2006
• National Development Plan 2007 – 2013
• National Spatial Strategy 2002 – 2020
• Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area
• The DTO ‘A Platform for Change Strategy 2000 – 2016
• South Dublin County Council Development Plan 2004 - 2010
• Transport 21
2.2 National Development Plan 2000 – 2006 5
The National Development Plan (NDP) 2000 – 2006 states that Ireland has a significant
infrastructural deficit, which threatens to inhibit the achievement of its economic and
employment potential. The NDP was therefore designed to underpin the development of a
dynamic competitive economy over the period 2000 to 2006. The plan aimed to build on the
unprecedented economic progress, which was experienced during recent years, and to
strengthen the foundations for further strong and sustainable progress in the years ahead.
The NDP states that “Cities and larger urban areas are the primary engines of growth in
modern economies. In order for them to reach their full potential they need to have efficient
public transport systems. This is not the case in Ireland especially in Dublin and surrounding
areas. If not addressed, poor public transport infrastructure will become a constraint on
growth. Our under developed public transport system, with a consequent over-reliance on
private cars, is also contributing to increased pollution which is an issue of concern given our
commitment under the Kyoto Protocol”.
The NDP, under the ‘Strategy for Transport in the Greater Dublin Area’, included the
allocation of €2,012 million between 2000 and 2006 for public transport and traffic
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