Environmental Report Non-Technical Summary

1.0 Introduction

This Environmental Report (ER) has been prepared by South Dublin County Council (SDCC) as part of the documentation to accompany a Part 8 planning process for the proposed Belgard Sq North – Cookstown Link Road, and includes a new signalised junction at Belgard Sq North. The ER documents the assessment of the impact of the proposed development on the environment in the vicinity of that development.

This non-technical summary summarises the outcome of the environmental assessment and highlights, in non-technical language, the main impacts of the proposed scheme.

2.0 Background to the Scheme

The South Dublin County Council Development Plan (SDCC DP) changed the zoning of the Cookstown area to REGEN (To facilitate enterprise and/or residential lead regeneration).The Council seeks to support and facilitate the regeneration of underutilised industrial lands that are proximate to town centres and transport nodes to provide for a more intensive mix of enterprise and/or residential led development. Many of these areas have high levels of vacancy, poor environmental quality and fragmented land ownerships. These lands are serviced and offer significant potential for more intensive forms of enterprise and/or residential led development.

3.0 Description of Proposed Scheme

The development site is located in the Tallaght town centre adjacent to Belgard Square North. The proposed development comprises:

The extension of the existing Cookstown Road to connect with Belgard Square North
A new signalised junction where the Belgard Sq North – Cookstown Link Road connects to the Belgard Square North.
Improvements to pathways, cycleways and crossings and improvements to the quality of the public realm locally.
Upgraded public lighting

4.0 Alternatives Considered

The route corridor proposed for the Belgard Sq North – Cookstown Link Road is very constrained due to adjacent developments Therefore, all alternative alignments considered for this scheme were substantially the same and differed only in the area of land required.

5.0 Traffic

Airton Road Extension
Belgard Square Extension
Belgard Sq North – Cookstown Link Road

Included in this part 8The traffic modelling has indicated that the proposed Belgard Sq North – Cookstown Link Road will operate satisfactorily in the Opening Year and continue operate satisfactorily in the 2022 and 2032 using high traffic growth rates for Dublin Region.

6.0 Impact on Human Beings

The area adjacent to the proposed road is a mix of brown field, commercial, open space and institutional land uses. Most existing development consists of warehouse type developments. Future population growth in the area is an objective of the South Dublin County Council Development Plan (SDCC DP) where the area has been zoned for REGEN (To facilitate enterprise and/or residential lead regeneration). Improvements to the local transportation infrastructure as set out in the SDCC DP are a prerequisite to support the anticipated population growth in the area.

7.0 Environmental Issues

7.1 Noise and Vibration

During the construction phase of the project there will be some small impact on nearby properties due to noise emissions from site traffic and other activities. The transient nature of construction works, the application of binding noise limits and hours of operation, along with implementation of appropriate noise control measures, will ensure that noise impact is kept to a minimum.

The predicted noise level generated by the proposed road development during the operational phase is not expected to represent a significant increase on current noise levels in the area.

Ground vibrations produced by road traffic are unlikely to cause perceptible structural vibration in properties located near to well-maintained and smooth road surfaces.

7.2 Air Quality and Climate

The air quality in the vicinity of the Belgard Sq North – Cookstown Link Road will not be significantly affected by vehicle exhaust emissions.

7.3 Hydrology and Hydrogeology

The proposed scheme will have no impact on water quality. Attenuation measures will be installed to comply with sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) best practice.

7.4 Soil

The Belgard Sq North – Cookstown Link Road will have no impact on the soil along the scheme.

8.0 Ecology

There is no feature of significant interest in the flora and fauna of the site as all species are typical of the habitats and are very wide spread in similar areas.

9.0 Landscape and Visual Impacts

The proposed scheme will not have an adverse impact in its setting as the proposed road will marry the existing Belgard Square North with the Belgard Sq North – Cookstown Link Road

10.0 Material Assets

The proposed scheme will require a permanent land area of approximately 0.15 hectares.

11.0 Architectural, Archaeological and Cultural Heritage

All works will take place, with only minor surface effects, either within the corridor of the existing road or directly adjacent to the existing road in land that is zoned for future development. Consequently there are no predicted impacts on architectural, archaeology and cultural heritage.

Archaeological monitoring will be undertaken during the earthworks activities.

12.0 Construction Phase

The construction of the road scheme will cause an increase in noise during working hours, but contract conditions will limit this noise to acceptable levels. Working hours will be limited, thereby avoiding the potential for disturbance of residents at night. The Contract will include requirements for appropriate measures to prevent an accidental spillage of pollutant materials into watercourses. The Contractor will be obliged to ensure that the surrounding roads are kept free from dirt. Construction traffic for the scheme will be directed to use main roads to access the site and residential areas will not be affected.

13.0 Mitigation Measures

The following is a summary of the mitigation measures that will be undertaken to reduce the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Belgard Sq North – Cookstown Link Road scheme:

Noise control measures during construction will minimise disturbance to local residents.
Machinery and compounds will be positioned, where possible, to avoid undue disruption.
Pollution control measures will be taken to protect the surface water drainage system during construction.
The contractor will be required to prevent dirt from being released onto public roads.
Archaeological monitoring will be undertaken during the earthworks activities

14.0 Further Information

Copies of the full Part 8 Environmental report may be inspected at the following locations: -

South Dublin County Council,

County Hall,

Tallaght,

Dublin 24,

D24 YNN5

15.0 Planning Process

Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 to 2011 set out the process to be used for planning approval of local authority projects that are not subject to a requirement for a formal Environmental Impact Statement under other relevant legislation. The planning approval process will involve a period of public consultation after which South Dublin County Council will review any submissions made by the public. The proposed scheme will be presented to the Elected Members where it may accepted, either with or without amendments, and if so will proceed. Alternatively the Elected Members may reject the scheme in which case the proposed scheme will not proceed.

Belgard Square North to Cookstown Link Road

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