APPENDIX 1: OBJECTIVES AND POLICY REVIEW - APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT OF DRAFT LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOP

Vicarstown

7 APPENDIX 1: OBJECTIVES AND POLICY REVIEW

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Objectives and Policies Potential Impact Mitigation Strategic Policy and recommendation

PPS3/P002 Encourage housing development to locate in designated towns and villages where social or infrastructural services exist or will be provided as resources become available

Development in the absence of investment in infrastructure has the potential for negative consequences on Natura 2000 sites and should be avoided. Potential for housing to be provided prior to resources becoming available creating increased pressure on existing infrastructure e.g. wastewater treatment, and resulting in exceedence of capacity.

Ensure that all development takes place in tandem with the provision of adequate services such as water supply or wastewater treatment.

DPS3/003 Protect designated areas and

high amenity value in the county as important elements of rural character and ensure that any plan or project associated with the provision of new housing, which has the potential to significantly effect a Natura 2000 site, is assessed in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in order to avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of that site. DPS3/P015 P018 P022 P027 P031

Promote densities, relative to the scale of the settlement, located as near as is

practicable to the town centre area, particularly in town centre locations, subject to good urban design and proximity to public transport facilities having regard to Sustainable Residential Developments in Urban Areas (2009)

Many town centres locations have Natura 2000 sites running though them

Ensure that any plan or project associated with the provision of new housing, which has the potential to significantly affect a Natura 2000 site, is assessed in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in order to avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of that site.

PPS3/P007 Provide for sustainable rural housing in the country in accordance with Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines issues by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The provision of increasing rural housing has the potential to negatively impact on

groundwater resources through discharge from septic tanks to ground and abstraction. This may have negative impacts on groundwater dependant sites.

HS4/P007 Ensure that sufficient and suitable land is zoned in the Development Plan for residential use to meet the requirements of the housing strategy and to ensure that a scarcity of such land does not occur at any time during the period of the Development Plan

There is potential for additional zoning of lands that may impact on Natura 2000 sites.

Ensure that any plan or project associated with the zoning of new lands, which has the potential to significantly affect a Natura 2000 site, is assessed in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in order to avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of that site. May not be necessary

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Objectives and Policies Potential Impact Mitigation Strategic Policy and recommendation

SI5/P003 Ensure that adequate lands and services are zoned and reserved to cater for the establishment, improvement or expansion of primary and post-primary educational facilities in the County.

There is potential for lands to be inadequately serviced and could potentially impact on Natura 2000 sites

Ensure that all development takes place in tandem with the provision of adequate services such as water supply or wastewater treatment.

SI5/P14 Ensure that adequate lands and services are available for the improvement, establishment and expansion of health services

There is potential for lands to be inadequately serviced and could potentially impact on Natura 2000 sites

Ensure that all development takes place in tandem with the provision of adequate services such as water supply or wastewater treatment. SI5/P32 Facilitate the provision of new

burial grounds and the extension of existing cemeteries as appropriate to cater for the needs of a multi-cultural county

There is potential for

contamination of groundwater resources through inappropriate sitting or extension of burial grounds

Ensure protection of groundwater dependant Natura 2000 sites which rely on the continued supply of groundwater resources to secure the key environmental conditions that support the integrity of the site and through protection of groundwater standards as defined by the SERBMP

RA6/P006 Prepare an open space plan for the county having regard to the town parks, riverside walks and other amenity spaces

A number of Natura 2000 sites may be used for recreational purposes, such as river walks or upland areas. There is potential for negative impacts on Natura 2000 sites from direct habitat loss, deterioration, indirect impact or disturbance as a result of recreation and amenity use

Ensure that any plan or project associated with open space planning or tourism, which has the potential to significantly affect a Natura 2000 site, is assessed in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in order to avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of that site.

RA6/P012 Pursue the provision of riverside walks and fishing areas, and where appropriate, the development of ancillary facilities to ensure that theses are user-friendly and the development of other unique recreational offerings such as mountain biking at appropriate sites, in order to harness the tourist/recreational potential of the county.

Ensure that any plan or project associated with open space planning, which has the potential to significantly affect a Natura 2000 site, is assessed in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in order to avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of that site.

EC7/003 Protect existing industry and enterprise and encourage the development of new industry and enterprise in appropriate locations, directing large-scale and labour intensive

developments to either appropriately zoned industrial, business or enterprise areas such as Togher National Enterprise Centre, Kew Lew Business Park, Portarlington Enterprise Centre of to appropriately zoned lands

The economic development of lands, which includes industrial and enterprise, retail,

commercial and urban

development, rural development and resource based economic activity (including renewable energy, extraction, forestry) has the potential to cause mainly indirect impacts on Natura 2000 sites.

Ensure that any plan or project associated with economic development of lands, which has the potential to significantly affect a Natura 2000 site, is assessed in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in order to avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of that site.

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Objectives and Policies Potential Impact Mitigation Strategic Policy and recommendation

EC7/P20 Direct the location of new commercial enterprises to town centre locations, where a suitable site can be located

Natura 2000 sites run through and adjacent to many town centres, creating potential for impacts

EC7/P30 Support the expansion and diversification of the

agricultural sector into areas such as forestry, alternative energy enterprises, tourism amenities

There is potential for these industries to impact on sensitive Natura 2000 sites, particularly upland areas.

EC7/P33 Support in principle the expansion of the forestry sector in line with national policy documents and in particular support an increase in the broadleaf component to 30%.

There is potential for forestry to negatively impact on upland sites, hydrology and water quality in Natura 2000 sites.

EC7/P36 Renewable energy: Support the expansion of the wind energy industry

Support in principle the harnessing of geothermal energy as a commercial enterprise subject to general planning and environmental considerations

There is potential for renewable energy to negatively impact on upland sites, hydrology, water quality and groundwater resources in Natura 2000 sites.

EC7/P38 Support the development of peatlands within County Laois for appropriate alternative uses subject to general planning and environmental considerations and nature considerations

There is potential for the development of peatlands to negatively impact on upland sites, hydrology, water quality and groundwater resources in Natura 2000 sites and to result in direct habitat loss,

degradation and disturbance

EC7/P39 Support in principle the expansion of the mineral extraction and processing sector which offers

opportunity for employment and economic development generally

There is potential for the expansion of the mineral extraction industry to negatively impact on water quality and groundwater resources in Natura 2000 sites and to result in direct habitat loss, degradation and disturbance in Natura sites, particularly eskers

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Objectives and Policies Potential Impact Mitigation Strategic Policy and recommendation

TM8/004 To identify walking, cycling and driving trails between historic towns and villages

Slieve Bloom Mountains, River Barrow and River Nore, eskers and peatlands are Natura 2000 sites that are sensitive to disturbance

Protect the natural resources upon which tourism is based through the enforcement of policies in relation t resource protection: landscape character assessment; architectural conservation areas; water quality; and biodiversity and ensure that any plan or project associated with tourism, which has the potential to significantly effect a Natura 2000 site, is assessed in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in order to avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of that site. TM8/P02 Promote more balanced

county-wide development of tourism infrastructure to ensure that tourism is used as an economic driver enabling the achievement of more self- sustaining centres throughout the County

Slieve Bloom Mountains, River Barrow and River Nore, eskers and peatlands are Natura 2000 sites that are sensitive to disturbance

development of power generation facilities in he county, including the support of non renewable energy developments where it is consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the county

There is potential the development of power

generation to negatively impact on Natura 2000 sites through impacts on water quality, disturbance, and habitat loss.

Ensure that any plan or project associated with energy

generation or supply, which has the potential to significantly effect a Natura 2000 site, is assessed in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in order to avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of that site.

ET9/005 To support and facilitate the development of the electricity infrastructure to ensure a secure supply for the residents of County Laois

There is potential the development of power

generation to negatively impact on Natura 2000 sites through impacts on water quality, disturbance, and habitat loss, particularly at water crossings or in upland sites.

Ensure that any plan or project associated with energy

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Objectives and Policies Potential Impact Mitigation Strategic Policy and recommendation

TT10/P04 Encourage and facilitate investment in the road network at national, regional and local level and prioritise delivery to maximise the economic benefits to the County

There is potential for projects associated with transport and road networks to negatively impact on Natura 2000 sites through impacts on water quality, disturbance, and habitat loss, particularly at water crossings or in upland sites.

Ensure that any plan or project associated with transportation (roads, rail or other forms), which has the potential to significantly affect a Natura 2000 site, is assessed in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive in order to avoid adverse impacts on the integrity of that site. TT10/P07 Ensure that the study corridors

of road projects, the definitive routes of which are not yet finalised, are reserved free from development.

catchment-based Flood Risk Assessments and Management Plans for the Barrow, Nore and Shannon catchment as these relate to County Laois

Catchment Flood Risk Management Plans (CFRMP) establish a prioritised set of flood risk management measures for each area, including the use of physical and management responses which have the potential to negatively impact on Natura 2000 sites.

Ensure that CFRMP and management measures have the potential to impact negatively on Natura 2000 sites are subject to Appropriate Assessment.

TT10/P64 Ensure protection of Natura 2000

sites supporting rivers or streams by avoiding development on floodplains and ensure that flood risk assessment policies, plans or projects are compliant with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive and avoid or mitigate negative impacts on Natura 2000 sites.

WS11/P01 Continue the development and upgrading of the water supply system so as to ensure that an adequate, sustainable and economic supply of piped water of suitable quality is available for domestic, commercial, industrial, fire safety and other use for the sustainable development of the county in accordance with the settlement structure identified in the Plan, the Needs Assessment of Laois County Council and as finances permit

There is potential for impacts on surface and groundwater in Natura 2000 sites through extraction and exploitation.

Ensure that plans and projects associated with the provision of water supply or wastewater and surface water treatment are assessed according to Article 6 of the Habitats Directive.

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Objectives and Policies Potential Impact Mitigation Strategic Policy and recommendation

WS11/P02 Protect and develop, in a sustainable manner, the existing groundwater sources and aquifers in the county and to control development in a manner consistent with the porter management of these resources, in accordance with the County Aquifer Protection Plan.

There is potential for impacts on groundwater in Natura 2000 sites through exploitation or discharge to groundwater.

WS11/P04 Co-operate with adjoining local authorities to continue the sustainable development and improvement of the water supply and treatment systems throughout the county to meet the anticipated drainage requirement of the area

There is potential for cross border water supply and treatment to negatively impact on Natura 2000 sites through impacts on surface water or ground water abstraction or impacts on water quality through insufficient treatment.

Ensure cross-boundary cooperation and consistency in relation to policy and planning for the protection of water

dependant Natura 2000 sites, such as surface water systems and groundwater resources that cross administrative boundaries. WS11/P19 Encourage and facilitate the

development of necessary waste treatment facilities subject to proper planning and environmental standards being met

There is potential for waste treatment facilities to negatively impact on Natura 2000 sites

Ensure that plans and projects associated with the provision of waste treatment facilities are assessed according to Article 6 of the Habitats Directive.

In document APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT OF DRAFT LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN (Page 61-67)