Colin buchanan

Strategic Environmental Assessment & Appropriate Assessment, Co. Kilkenny

Callan and Castlecomer are attractive market towns that act as service centres for their wider rural hinterland.

The LAPs and associated land use zoning objectives developed by Colin Buchanan sought to address the challenge of enabling future growth and development without compromising the town’s historic urban fabric whilst ensuring environmental constraints such as traffic congestion and flood risk are mitigated against or alleviated to ensure the proper planning and sustainable development of the towns in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000.

The Plans provide urban design guidance and site specific development briefs that guide the development of key development opportunity sites within the towns. The Plans’ vision has been realised through engaging with local people, key landowners / organisations and local representatives and giving due consideration to relevant national, regional and local policies and guidance.

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in line with legislative requirements of the SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) and Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) was undertaken for each Plan. SEA informs planners, decision-makers and the public on the likely significant environmental effects of Plans. In consideration of SEA requirements, Colin Buchanan carried out a screening determination, establishing the need for SEA, and a scoping report, which developed a detailed understanding of the existing environment and pinpointed critical environmental issues facing the area in consultation with the statutory consultees. Issues such as water quality, flooding, cultural and natural heritage were highlighted for further consideration and informed the plan strategy.

The Environmental Report was subject to public consultation in conjunction with the statutory consultation of the Draft and Amended Draft Plan. The Environmental Report identified and appraised alternative plan strategies, set out the likely significant effects of the plan on the environment and possible mitigation measures with a view to informing decision makers and improving the environmental performance of the Plans.

Colin Buchanan, in conjunction with Openfield, has also produced Appropriate Assessments for each LAP in order to comply with the requirements of the Habitats Directive in response to the recent European Court of Justice Ruling against Ireland (Case 418/04 EC Commission v Ireland). The findings of the Court in its lengthy judgment will have major implications for the way in which Plans and projects progress and which in particular will be required to demonstrate no significant effect on these sites designated and requiring protection under EU law.