Volume 3D Chapter 14 Cultural Heritage
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North-South 400 kV Interconnection Development Environmental Impact Statement Volume 3D 14 CULTURAL HERITAGE 14.1 INTRODUCTION 1 This chapter evaluates impacts on the cultural heritage arising from the proposed development and associated development works within the Meath Study Area (MSA) as defined in Chapter 5, Volume 3B of the EIS. This chapter evaluates both the direct and indirect impacts of the proposed development on the cultural heritage of the MSA, as well as recommending mitigation measures and summarising the residual impacts that will persist once the mitigation has been completed. Impacts are evaluated for the construction, operation and decommissioning phases of the proposed development. 2 The term ‗cultural heritage‘ is a wide ranging concept, covering a vast breadth of knowledge and it is beyond the scope of this document to discuss it in detail. However, in summary, for the purposes of this appraisal, it includes archaeological heritage, architectural heritage, underwater cultural heritage, cultural landscapes and intangible cultural heritage such as folklore. In subsequent sections of this chapter and in line with the recommendations of the National Monuments Service and the Built Heritage and Architectural Policy Section of the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DAHG), these have been broadly divided under the headings of ‗archaeological heritage‘, ‗architectural heritage‘ and ‗other cultural heritage‘. 3 Efforts have been made from the earliest stages of the project, during both constraints mapping and route selection, to minimise any direct physical impacts and impacts on the setting of cultural heritage sites in the study area. 14.1.1 Legal Framework 14.1.1.1 Conventions and Legislation 4 This appraisal is cognisant that Ireland has ratified several European and international conventions in relation to the protection of its cultural heritage, including: The UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972; ICOMOS Xi‘an Declaration on the Conservation of the Setting of Heritage Structures, Sites and Areas, 2005; Codified EIA Directive 2011/92/EU; The European Landscape Convention 2000; The European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Valletta Convention), ratified by Ireland in 1997; and 14-1 North-South 400 kV Interconnection Development Environmental Impact Statement Volume 3D The European Convention on the Protection of the Architectural Heritage (Granada Convention), ratified by Ireland in 1997. Relevant legislation includes: The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended; The National Monuments Act 1930, as amended; and The Architectural Heritage and Historic Properties Act, 1999. 14.1.1.2 County Development Plans 5 The provisions of the Cavan County Development Plan 2014-2020 (the Cavan CDP) and the Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 (the Meath CDP) are a material consideration for An Bord Pleanála (the Board) in its determination of the application for planning approval of the proposed development. The CDPs contain lists of archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage sites including national monuments, recorded monuments, Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs), protected structures and protected views, as well as baseline assessments of the landscape character of the county. The plans also outline the county‘s heritage policies and objectives that aim to protect and promote the archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage of the region. This evaluation was carried out with due regard to these policies and other relevant information contained within the plans. 6 The following is a synopsis of how the cultural heritage consultants have addressed the archaeological and architectural policies and objectives outlined in each of the relevant CDPs. Cavan County Development Plan 2014-2020 – Archaeological Heritage Policies 7 In order to protect the archaeology of County Cavan, all archaeological monuments in Cavan contained in the Archaeological Survey Database, available from the www.archaeology.ie website, were mapped in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to ensure that they could be avoided, thereby preserving them in-situ, as far as is practicably possible given all the constraints within the study area. Furthermore, National Monuments in State care, in the ownership of the local authority or subject to preservation orders were highlighted. During desk based evaluation, orthophotography, historic mapping and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data were referred to, to assist in identifying previously unrecorded sites of archaeological potential and to assist subsequent field studies. Mitigation measures have been recommended to ensure that should any archaeology be impacted upon by the construction, operation or decommissioning of the proposed development, that it is preserved by record, by suitably qualified archaeologists, in full consultation with the Archaeological Section of the DAHG and the National Museum of Ireland. Should previously unrecorded archaeology be 14-2 North-South 400 kV Interconnection Development Environmental Impact Statement Volume 3D encountered during works associated with the proposed development, works in the area will immediately be suspended and that the appropriate Government agency will be informed. Cavan County Development Plan 2014-2020 – Architectural Heritage Policies 8 In order to protect and preserve the architectural heritage of County Cavan, the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) and the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) proposed have been mapped in GIS from the earliest stages of the development, to ensure that they could be avoided, as far as is practicably possible, given all the constraints within the study area, thereby reducing both potential physical impacts and impacts on their setting. Upon the release of the Cavan NIAH survey in 2012, this data was added to the GIS and reviewed to see what effect the development may have on any new sites contained in the data set. The RPS and NIAH are not a complete record of the important architectural heritage of the county, therefore during both desk based work and fieldwork a search for new, previously unrecorded sites and / or features that deserve protection, including bridges, vernacular architecture, railways, street furniture, industrial heritage etc. was carried out. A review of the ACAs contained in the Cavan CDP was carried out as part of the evaluation; however none were located in the vicinity of the proposed development. Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 – Archaeological Heritage Policies 9 All archaeological monuments in the archaeological Survey Database and National Monuments, in State care, in the ownership of a local authority or monuments under preservation orders were downloaded from the www.archaeology.ie website and other relevant inventories and were mapped in GIS from the earliest phases of the proposed development (CH Pol 6 and 7). Meath County Council also made available their Graveyard Survey in GIS format. Cognisant of the increased level of legislative protection for National Monuments, all sites with this classification were highlighted to assist the project team in the preparation of the Preliminary Re-Evaluation Report (May, 2011). In addition the project team were provided with a full inventory of recorded archaeological monuments in order to inform the design process. Meath County Council note that “through policies contained in this Development Plan, [Meath County Council] seek to ensure the effective protection, conservation and enhancement of archaeological sites, monuments and their settings.” This chapter evaluates the impact on the setting of all archaeological monuments located within 2km of the proposed route and National Monuments in State care within 5km. 14-3 North-South 400 kV Interconnection Development Environmental Impact Statement Volume 3D 10 Where previously unrecorded sites of archaeological potential have come to light through the evaluation process, potential impacts are evaluated in this chapter and mitigation measures recommended. No mitigation measures will however be implemented without the guidance of the National Museum of Ireland and the National Monuments Service of the DAHG in accordance with National Monuments legislation (CH Pol 9). Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 – Architectural Heritage Policies 11 The Meath CDP – Architectural Heritage Policies. All recorded architectural sites, including Protected Structures, sites from the NIAH (both building and garden surveys) and ACAs were mapped in GIS for the constraints mapping phase. Also included were structures and features identified from historic mapping (first edition 6‖ inch colour maps dated 1829-41). As most RPSs and NIAH sites are upstanding structures and the character of ACAs is afforded special protection in the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), the sensitivity of these sites to impacts on setting were highlighted during initial constraints mapping. Through early identification of architectural heritage sites, it has been possible to avoid physically impacting upon any ACAs or Protected Structures and their immediate curtilages (CH POL 10). In relation to designed landscapes, historic parks, gardens and demesnes every effort was made to minimise any impacts on the principal components of these features (CH OBJ 22). However, given the scale of the proposed development and conscious of other environmental constraints avoidance of all impacts was not possible. Although not backed