This research paper seeks to achieve three objectives: (1) assess the high-level impact of severance for Active Travel (AT) users in Ireland through a policy and literature review; (2) analyse a severance case study along the M50 in Dublin, exploring potential interventions; and (3) outline the implications of this study for transport planning practice and further research. Research objectives 1 and 3 are primarily literature and discussion based with research showing that a single definition for the term severance has not been agreed upon as multiple interpretations exist. To investigate M50 severance, residential address points from Geo Directory were mapped in GIS with Liffey Valley Shopping Centre as the destination identifying desire lines using the ‘Near’ tool and the points of severance. Case study results are twofold. Firstly, there is North-South severance on either side of the River Liffey valley and the N4. This is due to a lack of AT accessible road connections over the river. Secondly, there is East-West severance between the Palmerstown community to the east of the M50 and the Liffey Valley shopping centre on the west side, due to the M50 not having a crossing point. This research is focused on the M50 orbital motorway in Dublin, and associated areas like the Liffey Valley, to inform future research on how to identify severance issues and highlight its importance in project planning. Further research on this topic could develop robust standards to define severance in an Irish context, as a standard definition does not currently exist, and included across projects as part of improved project checks to ensure severance is avoided and mitigated.