An Bord Pleanála Inspector’s Report Applications : 09.HA0045 M7 Naas to Newbridge Bypass Upgrade Scheme : 09.MA0012 Kildare County Council (M7 Naas- Newbridge Bypass Upgrade) Motorway Scheme Order 2013 Applicant : Kildare County Council Site Inspections : 13 th and 19 th March, 6 th , 15 th and 17 th May 2014 Oral Hearing : 23 rd and 26 th May and 6 th June 2014 Inspectors : Mairead Kenny HA0045/MA0012 An Bord Pleanála Page 1 of 101 Contents INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 6 DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT AND SITE CONTEXT ..................................... 7 SELECTED PLANNING HISTORY .......................................................................... 11 North-West Quadrant Naas .................................................................................. 11 Road Schemes ..................................................................................................... 12 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT............................................................................... 13 European and related provisions .......................................................................... 13 White Paper Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system 2011 ................................ 13 Regulation (EU) No. 1315/2013 – TEN-T.......................................................... 14 The Core Network Corridors – Trans European Transport Network 2013 ........ 15 The European Communities (Road Infrastructure Safety Management) Regulations ....................................................................................................... 15 Other Policy ...................................................................................................... 15 National Plans and Policies .................................................................................. 16 Smarter Travel – A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009-2020...................... 16 National Spatial Strategy................................................................................... 16 NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2011-2030 (Draft) ...................... 16 NTA Integrated Implementation Plan 2013-2018 .............................................. 17 Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020...................................................................... 17 Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016 – Medium Term Exchequer Framework ........................................................................................................ 18 Regional and local plans....................................................................................... 18 Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010-2022 ............. 18 Kildare County Development Plan .................................................................... 18 Naas Town Development Plan 2011-2017........................................................ 18 HA0045/MA0012 An Bord Pleanála Page 2 of 101 OBSERVATIONS..................................................................................................... 19 An Taisce.............................................................................................................. 19 Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht................................................... 20 Health Service Executive...................................................................................... 20 Inland Fisheries Ireland ........................................................................................ 20 Irish Aviation Authority .......................................................................................... 21 National Transport Authority ................................................................................. 21 Annette and Ciaran Parker and Grainne and Michael Forde (Observation Active on 21th July 2014) ..................................................................................................... 21 Fintan Flood (Observation active on 21 st July 2014)............................................. 21 Harry and Maura Coyle......................................................................................... 22 Joe and Karen Evans ........................................................................................... 23 Kerry Group Services International Ltd................................................................. 23 Mary Coyle ........................................................................................................... 23 Old Abbey Manor Residents Association.............................................................. 24 Oral and Trevor Nuzum and others of Caragh Road ............................................ 24 Brendan and Carol Carton (Observation active on 21 st July 2014)....................... 24 Brendan and Gertie Coyle .................................................................................... 25 Catherine Morrin................................................................................................... 26 Edward Kinirons.................................................................................................... 26 Gerald and Shauna Kehoe ................................................................................... 26 John Kehoe .......................................................................................................... 27 Origin Enterprises Ltd ........................................................................................... 27 ORAL HEARING ...................................................................................................... 27 Overview............................................................................................................... 27 Day 1 .................................................................................................................... 29 Opening Comments.............................................................................................. 29 HA0045/MA0012 An Bord Pleanála Page 3 of 101 Applicant’s submission ......................................................................................... 29 Day 2 .................................................................................................................... 35 Observers’ submissions........................................................................................ 37 PRINCIPLE OF DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................ 50 Whether the scheme is required in order to comply with EU Regulations ............ 50 Other policy provisions ......................................................................................... 54 Smarter Travel .................................................................................................. 54 Requirements to assess the impact on other modes ........................................ 57 Induced traffic.................................................................................................... 58 GDA Strategy.................................................................................................... 59 Other Policy Provisions ..................................................................................... 60 Capacity and Safety.............................................................................................. 62 The nature of the problem................................................................................. 62 Drop in lanes and capacity issues..................................................................... 63 Alternatives / Demand Management..................................................................... 64 Provision for Pedestrians, Cyclists and other users.............................................. 65 Funding and Phasing ........................................................................................ 65 Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 66 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .......................................................... 67 Ecology................................................................................................................. 68 Hydrogeology ....................................................................................................... 70 Hydrology ............................................................................................................. 72 Soils and Geology................................................................................................. 74 Material Assets ..................................................................................................... 75 Human Beings ...................................................................................................... 76 Landscape and Visual Impacts............................................................................. 77 Cultural Heritage................................................................................................... 78 HA0045/MA0012 An Bord Pleanála Page 4 of 101 Noise .................................................................................................................... 78 Air Quality and Climate ......................................................................................... 84 Waste ..................................................................................................................