CALLAN LOCAL AREA PLAN 2019‐2025 Environmental Report Prepared for: Kilkenny County Council SLR Ref: 501.000526.00001 Version No: Rev 0 November 2018 Kilkenny County Council SEA Environmental Report SLR Ref No: 501.000526.00001 Filename: 20181107_501 000526 00001_SEA_Environmental Report_Final.docx November 2018 BASIS OF REPORT This document has been prepared by SLR Consulting Limited with reasonable skill, care and diligence, and taking account of the manpower, timescales and resources devoted to it by agreement with Kilkenny County Council (the Client) as part or all of the services it has been appointed by the Client to carry out. It is subject to the terms and conditions of that appointment. SLR shall not be liable for the use of or reliance on any information, advice, recommendations and opinions in this document for any purpose by any person other than the Client. 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Kilkenny County Council SEA Environmental Report SLR Ref No: 501.000526.00001 Filename: 20181107_501 000526 00001_SEA_Environmental Report_Final.docx November 2018 CONTENTS NON‐TECHNICAL SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 1 Section 1 Introduction and Terms of Reference .................................................................................... 1 SECTION 2 THE PLAN .................................................................................................................. 1 Content of the Plan ................................................................................................................................ 1 Interactions with Relevant Policy, Plans or Programmes ...................................................................... 2 SECTION 3 THE ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ............................................................................... 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2 Evolution of Environment in the Absence of a Plan .............................................................................. 3 Strategic Environmental Objectives ....................................................................................................... 4 SECTION 4 ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS .......................................................................................... 6 Description of the Alternative Plan Scenarios ....................................................................................... 6 Evaluation of Alternative Scenarios ....................................................................................................... 7 Selection of Preferred Alternative ......................................................................................................... 8 Appropriate Assessment and Flood Risk Assessment............................................................................ 8 SECTION 5 MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ............................................................. 8 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Monitoring .............................................................................................................................................. 9 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Report Structure ........................................................................................................................ 10 1.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 11 1.2.1 Screening .................................................................................................................................................................... 11 1.2.2 Scoping ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11 1.2.3 Public Consultation ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 1.2.4 Environmental Baseline Data...................................................................................................................................... 13 1.2.5 Selection of Strategic Environmental Objectives ....................................................................................................... 13 1.2.6 Consideration of Alternatives ..................................................................................................................................... 16 1.2.7 Environmental Assessment of the LAP ....................................................................................................................... 16 1.2.8 Changes to the Plan as a result of SEA ....................................................................................................................... 17 1.2.9 Mitigation.................................................................................................................................................................... 17 1.2.10 Monitoring .................................................................................................................................................................. 17 1.2.11 Technical Difficulties Encountered ............................................................................................................................. 17 1.2.12 Report Preparation ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 . Kilkenny County Council SEA Environmental Report SLR Ref No: 501.000526.00001 Filename: 20181107_501 000526 00001_SEA_Environmental Report_Final.docx November 2018 2.0 CONTENTS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN .................................................................... 19 2.1 Contents .................................................................................................................................... 19 2.2 Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 20 2.1.1 Plan Objectives ........................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.3 Relationship with other relevant plans and programmes ....................................................... 30 2.1.2 International ............................................................................................................................................................... 30 2.1.3 European ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 2.1.4 National ....................................................................................................................................................................... 33 3.0 CURRENT STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND DO NOTHING SCENARIO ........................... 41 3.1 Statistical Overview of the Area ................................................................................................ 41 3.2 Description of the Physical Environment of the Area ............................................................... 41 3.3 Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna .................................................................................................... 41 3.3.1 Designated sites .......................................................................................................................................................... 42 3.3.1 Protected Flora and Fauna ......................................................................................................................................... 46 3.3.2 Green Infrastructure and Ecological Connectivity...................................................................................................... 48 3.3.3 Woodlands, Trees and Hedgerows ............................................................................................................................. 49 3.3.4 Existing Environmental Problems ..............................................................................................................................