APPENDIX II NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT OF THE BIRR TOWN AND ENVIRONS DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2010-2016 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT for: Offaly County Council & Birr Town Council Áras an Chontae Birr Civic Offices Charleville Road Wilmer Road Tullamore Birr County Offaly County Offaly CAAS 2nd Floor, The Courtyard 25 Great Strand Street Dublin 1 FEBRUARY 2010 Includes Ordnance Survey Ireland data reproduced under OSi Licence Number 2009/10 CCMA/ Offaly County Council. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Ordnance Survey Ireland and Government of Ireland copyright. © Ordnance Survey Ireland Environmental Report of the Birr Town and Environs Development Plan 2010-2016 SEA Appendix II Non Technical Summary Table of Contents Section 1 Introduction and Terms of Reference.....................................................1 Section 2 The Birr Town and Environs Development Plan......................................2 2.1 Structure and Content.......................................................................................................2 2.2 The Overall Goals of the Plan.............................................................................................2 2.3 Land Use Zoning...............................................................................................................3 Section 3 Existing Environment ..............................................................................4 3.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................4 3.2 Biodiversity and Flora and Fauna........................................................................................4 3.3 Soil..................................................................................................................................6 3.4 Population and Human Health............................................................................................6 3.5 Water, Waste Water and Drinking Water ............................................................................7 3.6 Air and Climatic Factors...................................................................................................13 3.7 Cultural Heritage ............................................................................................................14 3.8 Landscape .....................................................................................................................17 Section 4 Alternative Plan Scenarios ....................................................................18 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................18 4.2 Similarities and Differences between the Scenarios............................................................18 4.3 Evaluation of the similar features of each Alternative Scenario............................................22 4.4 Evaluation of the differences presented by each of the Scenarios........................................24 4.5 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................24 4.6 The Adopted Plan ...........................................................................................................25 Section 5 Mitigation and Monitoring Measures ....................................................30 5.1 Mitigation.......................................................................................................................30 5.2 Mitigation Measure Topics ...............................................................................................30 5.3 Monitoring .....................................................................................................................30 CAAS for Offaly County Council and Birr Town Council i Environmental Report of the Birr Town and Environs Development Plan 2010-2016 SEA Appendix II Non Technical Summary Section 1 Introduction and Terms of Reference This is the Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Report of the Birr Town and Environs Development Plan Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The purpose of the report is to provide a clear understanding of the likely environmental consequences of decisions regarding the future accommodation of growth in certain areas of Birr and its Environs. What is an SEA? SEA is a systematic process of predicting and evaluating the likely environmental effects of implementing a proposed plan, or other strategic action, in order to ensure that these effects are appropriately addressed at the earliest appropriate stage of decision-making on a par with economic and social considerations. Why is it needed? The SEA was carried out in order to comply with the provisions of the SEA Regulations and in order to improve planning and environmental management within Birr Town and Environs. This report should be read in conjunction with the Development Plan. How does it work? All of the main environmental issues in Birr Town and Environs were assembled and presented to the team who were preparing the new Plan. This helped them to devise a plan that protects whatever is sensitive in the environment. It also helped the identification of environmental problems/issues in the Plan area - so that these won’t get any worse - and ideally the plan tries to improve these. To decide how best to make a plan that protects the environment as much as possible the Planners examined alternative versions of the Plan. This helped to highlight the type of plans that are least likely to harm the environment. CAAS for Offaly County Council and Birr Town Council 1 Environmental Report of the Birr Town and Environs Development Plan 2010-2016 SEA Appendix II Non Technical Summary Section 2 The Birr Town and Environs Development Plan 2.1 Structure and Content The Development Plan consists of a written statement and maps which give a graphic representation of the proposals of the Plan, indicating land use zoning objectives for the Plan area. The Written Statement of the Plan is divided into 15 chapters and sets out the vision, aims, goals and strategy for Birr over the plan period in addition to the Councils’ policies and objectives under the following headings: Chapter 1: Introduction and Vision Chapter 2: Survey and Analysis Chapter 3: Overall Strategy Chapter 4: Town Centre, Retail and Renewal Chapter 5: Public Amenities & Open Space Chapter 6: Local Area Based Strategies Chapter 7: Crinkle Village Settlement Plan Chapter 8: Transport, Accessibility and Movement Chapter 9: Economy, Employment, Enterprise and Tourism Chapter 10: Infrastructure and Environment Chapter 11: Community, Social, Cultural and Sports Development Chapter 12: Built Heritage Chapter 13: Natural Heritage Chapter 14: Development Standards Chapter 15: Zoning Matrix and Land-Use Zoning Map 2.2 The Overall Goals of the Plan The overall goals of the Plan, which shape the policies and objectives of the Plan, are as follows: 1. To use the provisions and targets of the Midlands Regional Planning Guidelines (MRPGs) in the making, implementation and review of this Plan and in particular the MRPGs population target for Birr, to channel appropriate levels and types of development into Birr and Environs. 2. To implement a balanced and sequential approach to development in the making, implementation and review of this Plan in order to make best use of services, to use development opportunities to enhance the town and to ensure the compact and orderly growth of Birr. 3. To facilitate an appropriate balance between residential development and other uses in all parts of Birr and Crinkle and to set a positive framework for the development of, in particular, employment, educational and open space uses, together with community facilities and commercial services. 4. To encourage clustering of development of differing types and the integrated development of larger undeveloped areas identified within this plan. 5. The positively reaffirm the role of Birr’s Town Centre and to implement positive measures for the continued vibrancy of the centre using its attractive built form as positive factor while acknowledging the strong level of protection of buildings and structures necessary. 6. To maintain and improve Birr’s attractiveness as a place to live in and visit by implementing where possible the recommendations of the Birr Public Realm Plan 2009 where they apply to both the CAAS for Offaly County Council and Birr Town Council 2 Environmental Report of the Birr Town and Environs Development Plan 2010-2016 SEA Appendix II Non Technical Summary Town Centre and the outer areas, by encouraging environmental and access improvements as part of new development and by protecting the environs from inappropriate development. 7. To continue to protect and enhance the built and natural environment of Birr and its environs and to use, where possible, a positive approach towards development where it can be proven to enhance, preserve, re-use or increase the accessibility (where appropriate) of such features. 8. To enhance Birr as a place to work by setting a positive and flexible framework for the consolidation of existing and creation of new employment. 9. To preserve the separate identity of Crinkle village and encourage a moderate level of residential development together with the expansion of its commercial function for local needs. 10. To preserve, enhance, identify and secure new road, pedestrian, cycleway and green corridor linkages between and amongst