Riverine Community Project Marine Licence - ML2022012

Details

Reference: ML2022012
Project Type:  Construction
Location: Strabane, Co Tyrone
Coordinates: Irish Grid Reference 234119, 398597
Applicant: Derry City & Strabane District Council (Agent – McAdam Design)
Status: EIA Screening Opinion

Project Description

Donegal County Council (DCC) and Derry City & Strabane District Council (DCSDC) are jointly proposing the Riverine Community Park, an iconic cross border Community Park within Lifford (Co. Donegal), Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Strabane (Co. Tyrone), Northern Ireland, currently divided by the River Foyle.

The proposal focuses on connecting the two currently separated lands either side of the border with a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, reimagining the space either side to create a shared community parkland which links to the wider landscape and adjacent border towns through new routes and physical connection with the anticipated Strabane North Greenway (which will be developed separately to this Proposal by DCSDC).

The Strabane site is situated at Barnhill Road, in the north-western area of Strabane, County Tyrone.

For further information on the overall project, please click on link below:

Derry City & Strabane - Riverine Community Park (derrystrabane.com)

The components of this project that are subject to a Marine Licence within the NI jurisdiction are limited to:

• temporary in channel works to construct a buttress (located above MHWS) to support the suspended footbridge and,
• the installation of the suspended footbridge above the tidal River Foyle.

Planning Authorisations

This project has also received full planning permission from planning authorities in both jurisdictions-

Northern Ireland Planning Portal link -  Northern Ireland Public Register (planningsystemni.gov.uk)

Planning Application Reference Number - LA11/2022/0207/F
NI Planning Portal Reference – PAO962886

Please also see attached PDF document for planning authorisation documentation from An Bord Pleanála for the Lifford, County Donegal aspect of the proposal.

EIA Screening Opinion

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Marine and Fisheries Division is the marine licensing authority for the Northern Ireland inshore region under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and the appropriate authority for Northern Ireland as set out in the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2007.

Under the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017, DAERA Marine Licensing Branch are undertaking a 28 day consultation on the proposal with consultees in order to determine if an Environmental Impact Assessment is required for aspects of the project within the NI jurisdiction.

This proposal would fall under Category 10 (b) of Schedule 2 ‘Infrastructure projects’ – where urban development projects including the construction of shopping centres and car parks exceed 0.5 hectares. 

How to respond

Please send your written responses to the consultation to the email address listed below.

Please note the closing date for responses is 27th September 2023. 

Any comments received after this date will not be included in the final decision.

Documents

1. Marine Construction Licence Application Form
2. Shadow Habitat Regulations Assessment
3. Environmental Statement
4. Table of Contents for Environmental Statement
5. Outline CEMP
6. Combined Drawings – Strabane
7. Combined Drawings – Lifford (For reference)
8. An Bord Pleanála Planning Approval documents