Planning policy and development management has a significant role in achieving WFD objectives which notes: “Planning is critically important to the management of water resources. The planning system both directly and indirectly influences effective water management. This includes water service provision, river basin management, landscape, flood risk planning, coastal and marine management and climate change adaptation. Accordingly, statutory development plans must ensure the integration of sustainable water management considerations.”
Spatial planning can play a significant role in ensuring that the design of developments prevent and reduce diffuse pollution, including the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), blue green infrastructure and nature- based solutions. The development management process can also assist in reducing water use by encouraging rainwater harvesting (RWH) in new developments. Urban Blue Corridors can provide many benefits including: more effective management of urban flood risk; improved access, additional and more useable public open space, and improved biodiversity. The guidance document, Planning for Watercourses in the Urban Environment published by Inland Fisheries Ireland provides an integrated watercourse protection strategy. These guidelines provide planning authorities with a template for the protection and enhancement of rivers in urban areas which can bring the positive benefits of the “Wild River” to settlements.
RPO 122
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) It is an objective to: a. Promote the integration of sustainable water management solutions such as the use of SuDs. Future development and Local Area Plans in the Region should include objectives and actions to encourage the integration of sustainable water management solutions such as the use of SuDS; b. Promote the diversion of surface water from combined sewers where possible.
RPO 123
River Basin Management Plan and Spatial Planning a. The RSES recognises that planning is critically important to the management of water resources. It is an objective to encourage the better integration of water issues into planning authority land-use plans and strategies; b. It is anobjective to encourage the integration of river corridors with blue green infrastructure in settlements. The guidance document “Planning for Watercourses in the Urban Environment” published by Inland Fisheries Ireland provides an integrated watercourse protection strategy.
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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