European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
be located lies within 2km of Lough Swilly SPA. Since this site is designated for mobile species that may make use of habitat outside the SPA boundary there is potential for any new cycle route construction to affect functionally- linked land for SPA birds outside the SPA boundary. For much of the route, the southern/easte rn half of the 4km corridor covers open countryside and provides ample opportunity to
there would be no adverse effect on site integrity. If any new construction within 200m is needed to create the cycle route a noise and air quality assessment (and potentially noise and air quality mitigation) will be required to ensure there is no construction- related disturbance that could significantly affect SPA birds or significant air pollution impacts on sensitive habitats. The cycle network should not enter the SAC/SPA unless it can be demonstrated at the project level that no direct land take of SAC habitats would occur and no recreational disturbance of SPA birds would arise. Since a large part of the 4km corridor either overlaps with, or lies within 2km of, Lough Swilly SPA, there will need to be consideration of any potential for loss of functionally-linked habitat for SPA birds once the actual cycle route is determined. This will only be required if new construction is required within natural habitats and loss of habitat is greater than trivial; this is relevant because very little land is required for a cycle route. In such a situation wintering bird surveys to determine use of the habitats by SPA birds may be required and, if necessary, appropriate mitigation provided to ensure no adverse effect on the integrity of the European site before the works are consented. Between Carownamaddy and Castlecooly most of the corridor is occupied by SPA or SAC. North of Colehill the entire corridor overlaps with the SPA for a distance of c. 600m. In this stretch therefore it will be necessary for the cycle route to follow the existing roads/lanes to avoid any loss of SPA habitat, or to demonstrate that no significant loss of habitat for SPA birds would actually arise from delivering the cycle route.
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
route away from the SPA/SAC. However, between Carownamaddy and Castlecooly most of the corridor is occupied by SPA or SAC. North of Colehill the entire corridor overlaps with the SPA for a distance of c. 600m. In this stretch therefore it will be necessary for the cycle route to follow the existing roads/lanes to avoid any loss of SPA habitat, or to demonstrate that no
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
significant loss of habitat for SPA birds would actually arise from delivering the cycle route. Therefore, while noise and visual disturbance and air quality impacts (if construction was required) could arise if the final route ran within 200m of the SAC or SPA, these impacts are avoidable through either routing decisions or decisions regarding how the relevant sections of cycle route will be created (e.g.
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
utilising existing infrastructure rather than creating new infrastructure in the most constrained sections, or using standard mitigation methods).
3
Derry to Strabane
River Finn SAC, River Foyle and Tributaries SAC
The 4km corridor is sufficiently wide that direct impacts on any European sites can be avoided if necessary. Therefore, while noise and visual disturbance impacts, and air quality impacts (if construction was required) could arise if the final route ran within
The final route alignment should avoid any new construction within 200m of River Finn SAC or River Foyle and Tributaries SAC where possible unless it can be shown by detailed studies that no negative effects on otter would arise, such as due to the absence of holts in the relevant location. If the River Finn is to be traversed it should be using existing road alignments and bridges as a first preference and care will need to be taken to ensure that there is no new lighting introduced in areas that are currently unlit unless it can be demonstrated that there would be no adverse effect on site integrity. If any new construction within 200m of European sites is needed to create the cycle route an air quality assessment (and potentially noise and air quality mitigation) will be required to ensure there is no air pollution impacts on sensitive habitats.