Greater Dublin Area Draft Transport Strategy 2011-2030

the achievement of, the Strategy and the transportpolicy objectives. It will also participate in thedevelopment of draft regional planning guidancedrawn up by Regional Planning Authorities in theGDA, to ensure similar consistency of intent.The Authority will also work with GDA PlanningAuthorities to draw up local area plans that willinclude integrated transport provision, initiallytargeting the Designated Town and District centresand progressing to include all areas likely to besubject to development or redevelopment, in orderto ensure consistency between the Strategy andthe actions to be pursued at local level.13.5 Environmental considerationsThe development of the Strategy has beenaccompanied by consideration of environmentalissues through, in particular, the StrategicEnvironmental Assessment process and theHabitats Directive Assessment process. Thatprocess of environmental assessment will continuethrough the project development stage forindividual schemes forming part of the Strategy.In preparing the Strategy, it has been identifiedthat a number of schemes have the potential toimpact on Natura 2000 sites. This is dealt with inthe Natura Impact Statement, which has identifiedthat this should be further addressed throughproject-level Appropriate Assessment.Projects which are taken forward to developmentconsent stage will be supported by environmentalappraisal and Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) where appropriate. All transport projectswill be constructed in accordance with applicabledesign standards and environmental regulationsand that mitigation measures in accordance withgood practice will be incorporated into the designand construction of these schemes.13.6 Monitoring ProgressAs the Strategy is a 20 year plan, arrangementsto monitor the progress of its delivery overthat period will be required. This will primarilybe the responsibility of the Authority under itsstatutory remit.The framework for such monitoring will be largelythrough the series of shorter-term implementationplans that will be developed and which willestablish the delivery schedules for the variouselements of the overall Strategy. Details of themonitoring arrangements will be established aspart of the process of preparing the first suchimplementation plan.In addressing such issues at project leveldevelopment, the preferred approach will beto avoid significant negative impacts throughappropriate design and mitigation. However, if thisis not possible, then alternatives will need to beexamined and in the absence of these, there will bea requirement to demonstrate imperative reasonsof overriding public interest for the scheme and toimplement compensatory measures to offset anysignificant negative impacts that are identified.In delivering the Strategy, the Authority will,in collaboration with the relevant agencies,actively address the protection and enhancement,where practical, of the natural, built and historicenvironment associated with these schemes.Chapter 13: page 3 www.2030vision.ie