Galway City Council Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillmhe Draft Ardaun Local Area Plan 2018-2024 Strategic Environmental Report Development Plan & Policy Section Non-Technical Summary 2 Table of Contents Non-Technical Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Section 1: Introduction and Background ................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 Strategic Environmental Assessment Definition ....................................................................................... 11 1.3 SEA and LAP Preparation......................................................................................................................... 11 Section 2: SEA Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 SEA Process ............................................................................................................................................ 13 2.2 Author of Report .................................................................................................................................... 14 2.3 Scoping .................................................................................................................................................. 14 2.4 Technical Difficulties Encountered ........................................................................................................... 21 Section 3: Context .................................................................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Location ................................................................................................................................................. 22 3.2 Planning Policy Context........................................................................................................................... 23 Section 4: Policy Framework of the LAP .................................................................................................................... 24 Section 5: Baseline Environment ............................................................................................................................... 24 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 24 5.2 Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................................... 24 5.3 Population and Human Health ................................................................................................................ 31 5.4 Soils including geology ............................................................................................................................ 33 5.5 Water ..................................................................................................................................................... 34 5.6 Air and Climatic Factors .......................................................................................................................... 37 5.7 Material Assets ....................................................................................................................................... 41 5.8 Cultural Heritage .................................................................................................................................... 45 5.9 Landscape .............................................................................................................................................. 47 5.10 Transboundary Issues ........................................................................................................................... 48 Section 6: Strategic Environmental Objectives ........................................................................................................... 49 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 49 6.2 Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................................................. 49 7.1 Consideration of Alternative Plan Scenarios ............................................................................................ 52 7.2 Alternative Plan Scenario 1 – Do-nothing ................................................................................................ 52 7.3 Alternative Plan Scenario 2 – Unrestricted Development ......................................................................... 52 7.4 Alternative Plan Scenario 3 – Urban Village ............................................................................................. 53 7.5 Alternative Plan Scenario 4 – Protectionist .............................................................................................. 53 7.6 Alternative Plan Scenario 5 – New Town .................................................................................................. 54 7.7 Evaluation of Development Options ........................................................................................................ 54 7.8 Preferred Alternative .............................................................................................................................. 56 Section 8: Evaluation of LAP Policies and Objectives .................................................................................................. 57 8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 57 Section 9: Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................................ 61 9.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 61 9.2 Mitigation of negative impacts ................................................................................................................ 62 Section 10: Monitoring ............................................................................................................................................. 63 Appendix 1 Documentation considered in the formulation of the Environmental Report: ........................................... 68 Appendix 2 Glossary and Acronyms .......................................................................................................................... 71 SEA Environmental Report of the Draft Ardaun Local Area Plan 2018-2024 Non-Technical Summary 3 Non-Technical Summary Figure 1 Ardaun LAP area This is the Environmental Report of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Draft Ardaun Local Area Plan (LAP). The purpose of the report is to provide a clear understanding of the likely environmental consequences of decisions regarding the future development of Ardaun. The SEA is being carried out in order to comply with the provisions of the SEA Regulations, promote the sustainable development and proper planning of Ardaun and in order to inform planning and environmental management. This report should be read in conjunction with the Ardaun LAP. The Ardaun area, approx. 164ha, is located on the east-side of the city. Ardaun lands are located on the key eastern access corridor between Galway and Dublin and Limerick/Shannon Gateways. The area is adjacent to the M6/N6 and Galway Clinic, emerging and established communities at Roscam and Doughiska and the traditional nucleated settlement of Coolagh and Garraun train station. The N6/M6 link road divides the area. Ardaun is considered as the most optimal area for growth under the West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010- 2020 and City Development Plan 2017-2023, with the integration of land use and sustainable transportation being a key core principle. The area can accommodate the future targeted population growth of the city and is capable of being extended in the longer term into the county. The LAP is consistent with the Core Strategy of the City Development Plan 2017-2023 which requires the integrated and sustainable development of Ardaun by the implementation of a LAP, in consultation with stakeholders and the public. The LAP establishes the spatial planning framework for the development of Ardaun. The Ardaun LAP is prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). The LAP is intended to fit within the existing planning and policy hierarchy of the City Development Plan. The EU Directive on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) (2001/42/EC) came into force in July 2001 and requires Member States to assess the likely significant environmental effect of plans and programmes prior to their adoption. SEA is the systematic evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing a plan or programme at an early stage of the decision-making process before a decision is made to adopt the plan or programme. The SEA process is also intended to facilitate the identification