Development plan · Cork County Council
Cork County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume One: Main Policy Material
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards. Variations adopted since are not in this text.
Cork County Council · 2022–2028 · 564 pages
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- 181 8.14.3 The Directive covers establishments where dangerous substances may be present (e.g. during processing or storage) in quantities above a certain threshold. Excluded from the Directive are certain industrial activities which are subject to other legislation providing a similar level of protection (e.g. nuclear establishments or the transport of dangerous substances). 8.14.4 Depending on the amount of dangerous substances present, establishments are categorised in lower and upper tier establishments, the latter are subject to more stringent requirements. 8.14.5 The Chemicals Act (Control of Major Accident Hazards involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 209 of 2015) (the “COMAH Regulations”), implement the Seveso III Directive (2012/18/EU). The purpose of the COMAH Regulations is to lay down rules for the prevention of major accidents involving dangerous substances, and to seek to limit as far as possible the consequences for human health and the environment of such accidents, with the overall objective of providing a high level of protection in a consistent and effective manner. 8.14.6 The intention is to achieve this through tiered controls on the operators of the establishments subject to the Regulations - the larger the quantities of dangerous substances present at an establishment, the more onerous the duties on the operator. 8.14.7 The European Communities (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2006 and the European Union (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, which implemented the Seveso II Directive (96/82/EC), have been revoked by the European Union (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances)(Revocation) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 208 of 2015) and replaced by the COMAH Regulations. 8.14.8 Part 7 of the COMAH regulations 2015 provides that appropriate consultation procedures must be put in place to ensure that before decisions are taken, technical advice is available to Planning Authorities in respect of: a. the siting and development of new establishments. b. modifications to establishments of the type described in Regulation 12(1). c. new developments including transport routes, locations of public use and residential areas in the vicinity of establishments, where the siting, modifications or developments may be the source of, or increase the risk or consequences of, a major accident. 8.14.9 Such technical advice will be taken into account in the consideration of applications for planning permission. The Central Competent Authority in the case of planning advice is the Health and Safety Authority (“HAS”). The HSA are also obliged to provide the Planning Authority with information to assist in the long-term planning of the County in order: a. to maintain appropriate safety distances between establishments covered by these Regulations and residential areas, buildings and areas of public use, recreational areas, and, as far as possible, major transport routes; b. to protect areas of particular natural sensitivity or interest in the vicinity of establishments, where appropriate, through appropriate safety distances or other relevant measures; and; c. for the operator to take additional technical measures, in the case of existing establishments, in accordance with Regulation 7, so as not to increase the risks to human health and the environment. Table 8.8 List of Lower Tier Seveso Sites in Cork Establishment Name Establishment Address BOC Gases Little Island Co. Cork Carbon Chemical Group Ltd Raheens Industrial Estate, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork Carberry Food Ingredients Balineen, Co. Cork. Chemical Bulk Storage Ltd.* Unit 19, Tivoli Industrial Estate, Tivoli, Co. Cork Electricity Supply Board ESB Aghada Generating Station, Whitegate, Midleton, Co. Cork Gas Networks Ireland Mitchelstown Central Gas Injection Facility, Corracunna, Mitchelstown, Co Cork Goulding Chemicals Ltd.* Centre Park Road, Cork Hovione Ltd. Loughbeg, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork Irish Oxygen Company Ltd.* Waterfall Road, Co. Cork GO TO CONTENTS
- 182 Table 8.8 List of Lower Tier Seveso Sites in Cork Janssen Pharmaceutical Sciences UC Little Island, Cork LPG Cylinder Filling Ltd. Quartertown Industrial Estate, Mallow, Co. Cork Merck Millipore Ltd, Tullagreen, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork Tervas Ltd. Knockburden, Ovens, Co.Cork West Cork Distillers Marsh Road, Skibbereen. * Cork City Sites Table 8.9 List of Upper Tier Seveso Sites in Cork Establishment Name Establishment Address BASF Ireland Ltd. Little Island Industrial Estate, Little Island, Co. Cork Calor Teoranta* Tivoli Docks, Co. Cork Calor Teoranta Whitegate Filling Plant, Midleton, Co. Cork Eli Lilly Kinsale Ltd. Dunderrow, Kinsale, Co. Cork Flogas Ireland Ltd. * Tivoli Industrial Estate, Tivoli, Co. Cork Grassland Agro* Carrigrohane Road, Cork Irish Distillers Ltd. Ballynona North, Dungourney. Co.Cork Irish Distillers Ltd. Midleton Distilleries, Park North, Midleton, Co. Cork Irving Oil Whitegate Refinery Ltd. Whitegate, Midleton, Co. Cork Marinochem Ltd. Marino Point, Cobh, Co. Cork Novartis Ringaskiddy Ltd. Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Plant, P.O. Box 140, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Ltd. Kilnagleary, Carrigaline, Co. Cork Thermo Fisher Scientific Cork Ltd. Currabinny, Carrigaline. Co. Cork Zenith Energy Bantry Bay Terminal Ltd. Whiddy Island, Bantry Bay, Co. Cork * Cork City Sites County Development Plan Objective EC 8-8 Seveso III Directive Comply with the Seveso III Directive in reducing the risk and limiting the potential consequences of major industrial accidents. GO TO CONTENTS
- 183 County Development Plan Objective EC: 8-9 Control of Major Accident Hazards a) Have regard to the provision of the ‘Major Accident Directive’ (Seveso III) (European Council Directive 2012/18/EU) and in consultation with the HSA impose restrictions, on developments adjoining or within proximity of a Seveso site. The extent of restrictions on development will be dependent on the type of risk present and the quantity and form of the dangerous substance present or likely to be present. County Development Plan Objective County Development Plan Objective EC: 8-10 Proposals for New Establishments a) To permit new Seveso development only in low risk locations within acceptable distances from vulnerable residential, retail and commercial development, and areas of substantial public use and of particular natural sensitivity. b) To have regard to the advice of the Health & Safety Authority when proposals for new SEVESO sites are being considered or modifications to existing Seveso sites are being considered. c) To have regard to the advice of the Health & Safety Authority when proposals for development within the consultation zone of a SEVESO site are being considered. County Development Plan Objective EC: 8-11 Proposed Development Adjacent to Existing Establishments a) Have regard to the advice of the Health & Safety Authority when proposals for development within the consultation zone of a SEVESO site are being considered. b) Have regard to the provision of the ‘Major Accident Directive’ (Seveso III) (European Council Directive 2012/18/EU) and in consultation with the HSA impose restrictions, on developments adjoining or within proximity of a Seveso site. The extent of restrictions on development will be dependent on the type of risk present and the quantity and form of the dangerous substance present or likely to be present. c) In areas where Seveso sites exist in appropriate locations ensure that proposed uses in adjacent sites do not compromise the potential for expansion of the existing Seveso use and in particular the exclusion of developments with the potential to attract large numbers of the public. County Development Plan Objective EC: 8-12 Land Use Policy Ensure that land use policies take account of the need to maintain appropriate safety distances between future major accident hazard establishments (including modifications of installations, establishments or storage facilities) and residential areas, areas of substantial public use and of particular natural sensitivity or interest. 8.15 The Rural Economy 8.15.1 It is considered that the rural economy of County Cork includes the towns, villages and open countryside. Within the countryside, employment in agricultural and other resource-based activities such as forestry, mineral extraction, aquaculture, tourism, marine activity, recreation, energy, and renewable energy including wind energy are particularly important. Working from home and the opportunities for Smart Working, as discussed earlier in this chapter, can also help support the rural economy into the future as it allows people to work either from home or closer to where they live. To maximise the positive impacts of delivering employment near where people live, digital connectivity upgrades and rollout should also have regard to where development is envisaged. Good digital connectivity is considered to be vital to the rural economy and is discussed further in Chapter 13 Energy and Telecommunications. 8.15.2 The economic role played by smaller scale settlements for their surrounding rural hinterlands and the opportunities for sharing assets and opportunities between different settlements to drive rural economic growth is recognised in this Plan particularly in the towns which are located in the North Cork Agri-Food Network, the West Cork Marine Network and the Cork Ring Network. A key message of the RSES is that rural areas need diversity and innovativeness to maintain their population and to ensure economic resilience and job creation. This Plan aims to achieve this through an integrated approach to rural economic development and by supporting the completion of infrastructure projects including the provision of high-quality broadband and mobile communication services to all rural locations, water and wastewater facilities for the growth of settlements, sustainable energy supply, enhanced transport connectivity including rural public transport services and greenway walking and pedestrian corridors between settlements. GO TO CONTENTS
- 184 8.15.3 In line with the Action Plan for Rural Development 2017, the County Development Plan includes policies and objectives to address the five key pillars of the Action Plan i.e. supporting sustainable communities, supporting enterprise and employment, maximising our rural tourism and recreational potential, fostering culture and creativity and improving rural infrastructure and connectivity. The rural economy can also be linked to other chapters in this Plan including; Chapter 9 Towns Centres and Retail, Chapter 10 Tourism, Chapter 12 Transport and Mobility and Chapter 13 Energy and Telecommunications. County Development Plan Objective EC: 8-13 Rural Economy a) Encourage employment growth in County towns to support the population of the towns and their wider rural catchments. b) Strengthen rural economies through the promotion of innovation and diversification into new sectors and services including to ensure economic resilience and job creation. c) New development in rural areas should be sensitively designed and planned to provide for the protection of the biodiversity of the rural landscape. County Development Plan Objective EC: 8-14 Business Development in Rural Areas The development of appropriate new businesses in rural areas will normally be encouraged where: • The scale and nature of the proposed new business are appropriate to the rural area and are in areas of low environmental sensitivity. • The development will enhance the strength and diversity of the local rural economy. • The proposal will not adversely affect the character, appearance, and biodiversity value of the rural landscape. • The existing or planned local road network and other essential infrastructure can accommodate extra demand generated by the proposal. • The proposal has a mobility plan for employees home to work transportation. • Where possible the proposal involves the re-use of redundant or underused buildings that are of value to the rural scene. • The provision of adequate water services infrastructure; and • Provision of a safe access to the public road network. 8.16 Agriculture and Farm Diversification 8.16.1 Cork has a very strong agriculture and food production sector which offer continued opportunities for diversification, innovation and job creation across the county in urban and rural areas. 8.16.2 In addition to supplying food, the practice and tradition of the agricultural sector has been a major influence on the environment and landscape of the County’s rural areas, resulting in their international reputation as a major tourist destination and as an attractive place to live. 8.16.3 A key element of the County’s strategy to protect and enhance the County’s rural areas is to provide support and encouragement for a dynamic, innovative, and sustainable agriculture and food production sector. One such example of an innovative approach to the agri-food sector is the work of the Bride Farming With Nature Project which promotes a results based payment system for biodiversity/environmental enhancement measures on farms and could see farmers involved with the scheme being paid a premium for (farming with nature) branded produce. The EU Commission’s Farm to Fork strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 were released in May 2020 and both strategies include key policy developments for sustainable agriculture. GO TO CONTENTS
- 185 County Development Plan Objective EC: 8-15 Agriculture and Farm Diversification a) Encourage the development of sustainable agriculture and related infrastructure including farm buildings; b) Prioritising the development of sustainable rural housing to support working farmers and their employees (see Chapter 5 Rural); c) Encouraging farm diversification through the development of other sustainable business initiatives appropriate to the rural area (see Chapter 5 Rural); and d) Supporting appropriate proposals for sustainable tourism development. (See Chapter 5 Rural and Chapter 10 Tourism) 8.17 Mineral Extraction 8.17.1 It is important to protect important reserves of aggregates and minerals from development that might prejudice their utilisation. In line with this Cork County Council recognises the economic value and significance of the aggregate and mineral sector to the local, regional and national economy in terms of employment generation and providing raw materials for the construction industry. The Council therefore aims to protect and safeguard the operations of working quarries and proven aggregate resources from incompatible developments to ensure the continued viability of the extractive industry, whilst also ensuring that environmental, rural, scenic and residential amenities are protected. 8.17.2 In 2020 the ICF published a document ‘Essential Aggregates: Providing for Irelands Needs to 2040’ which is an industry led call for Government to ensure that Ireland’s future supply of aggregates (crushed rock, sand and gravel) is planned, monitored and managed in a sustainable manner, to provide for Ireland’s future infrastructure development. The document calls for a National Planning Policy for Aggregates which will underpin local and regional planning policy. The Planning Authority recognises the essential role of Aggregates and the need for the preparation of a County Minerals Strategy which will support a sustainable extractive industry during the lifetime of the County Development Plan. 8.17.3 There are 230 quarries registered under Section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, operating within the County, primarily engaged in Sand and Gravel and stone quarrying. There are distinct clusters at locations near Carrigtwohill, Midleton, Ovens, along the Bandon River from Dunmanway to Innishannon and to the east of Kanturk around Cecilstown. County Development Plan Objective EC :8-16 Safeguarding Mineral Reserves a) Protect and safeguard the county’s natural mineral resources from inappropriate development, by seeking to prevent incompatible land uses that could be located elsewhere, from being located in the vicinity of the resource, since the extraction of minerals and aggregates is resource based. b) Prepare a Minerals Strategy Plan to support a sustainable extractive industry during the lifetime of the plan. This strategy will be prepared taking account of environmental, nature, conservation, heritage, landscape, and other planning considerations. 8.18 Forestry 8.18.1 The forest sector provides around 12,000 jobs in Ireland today, mostly in rural Ireland. Coillte manages 37,226 hectares of forestry in County Cork much of which is open for amenity use. 8.18.2 It is recognised that Irish forestry plays a critical role in contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing Ireland’s energy security, and contributing to a post-carbon and climate resilient economy. 8.18.3 Forestry can play an important role in increasing and diversifying farm income. By incorporating forestry into the farming mix, agricultural production can continue alongside timber production while delivering both economic and environmental benefits. This Plan recognises that forestry can offer an alternative enterprise for farmers diversifying from more traditional agriculture and the plan supports the continued sustainable growth of forestry as an economic activity whilst affording maximum protection to the rural environment and landscape. County Development Plan Objective EC: 8-17 Forestry Support sustainable forestry development, including the planting of native trees, throughout the County where it is deemed appropriate and to ensure that the development is compatible with the protection of the environment and nature conservation areas including sensitive areas, water supplies and fisheries. GO TO CONTENTS
- 186 8.19 Film Production 8.19.1 Ireland has a growing film making industry but the lack of any accessible studio and post-production facility is hindering the development of the Cork region as a location for incoming and indigenous film production. Cork has a wide range of film locations including rural countryside, coastal settings, distinctive rural town settings etc. The Planning Authority will support the establishment of appropriately located facilities in this regard. 8.20 Fishing and Aquaculture 8.20.1 Commercial fishing and aquaculture play a major role in local economies in our coastal areas throughout the County. The Council will support the provision of appropriate infrastructure that facilitates a modern and innovative fishing industry. 8.20.2 The Council will also continue to recognise and support the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry in order to maximise its contribution to employment and the economic well-being of rural coastal communities. To support rural communities, it will be necessary to allow diversification of the rural economy into new sectors and services and that a less prescriptive approach to zoning objectives should be taken. This Plan therefore recognises the important role aquaculture can play in the diversification of rural areas. 8.20.3 Development in Fisheries and Aquaculture production will need to have regard to ecological and environmental considerations to minimise any detrimental impacts on resources and ecosystems. The Council supports the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) European Legislation, which aims to protect the marine environment which requires the application of an ecosystem-based approach to the management of human activities, enabling a sustainable use of marine goods and services. County Development Plan Objective EC: 8-18 Fishing and Aquaculture a) To support the sustainable development of fishing and aquaculture industries ensuring that new development is compatible with the protection of the environment, nature conservation, heritage landscape and other planning considerations. b) Support the use of existing port facilities for the catching and processing of fish as an economic activity that contributes to the food industry in the County. c) Support and protect designated shellfish areas as an important economic and employment sector. d) Recognise the potential of alternative sites, such as quarries, for aquaculture and commercial fisheries. e) Strengthen rural economies through innovation and diversification into new sectors and services including in the marine economy. 8.21 Renewable Energy 8.21.1 Renewable energy projects can contribute to the diversification of the rural economy and benefit local communities. The Council will support the provision of appropriate renewable energy proposals in accordance with the provisions of this Plan, and in particular, the Objectives of Chapter 13 Energy and Telecommunications. 8.22 Economic Development Land Use Zonings 8.22.1 Chapter 18 ‘Zoning and Land Use’ sets out the appropriate uses for each land use zoning objective included in the County. The land use economic development zonings include Industrial Areas, High Technology Campus Areas and Business and General Employment Areas. In addition to these economic development land use zonings there is also significant potential for employment generation in Town Centre zonings particularly for office use and within the existing Mixed/ General Business / Industrial Uses zone for new business start-ups. The objectives for each employment land use zoning are outlined in Chapter 18 Land Use and Zoning. GO TO CONTENTS
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- 189 CHAPTER 9 TOWN CENTRES AND RETAIL Aim of Chapter To sustain and improve the retail profile and competitiveness of County Cork primarily through strengthening and reinventing the role of town centres and other retail locations and by improving the quality of the environment and choice of retail developments on offer. To nurture our towns as people centred and liveable places through a Town Centre First approach.
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Source Cork County Council: Cork County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume One: Main Policy Material (2022–2028) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.