Marine Consents
Marine Management Organisation
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) administers a range of statutory controls that apply to marine works, including all construction, coastal defences, dredging and the disposal of waste materials at sea in waters around England for which responsibility is vested in the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. You can view licence applications on the MMO's public register available on its website.
In April 2011, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) launched a new system for licensing marine activities in seas around England, a commitment set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The new system should result in a more streamlined application process for developers, and will enable the MMO to publish information about how decisions take into account the needs of coastal communities and the environment. Applications can be made via the Marine Management Organisation’s website.
The MMO will be launching its pre-application service for significant marine projects from April 2011. The service will allow clients to engage early with both it and consultees on their prospective projects. This should streamline the application process and also ensure all those organisations involved in assessing the application are involved. The MMO is also in the process of designing a new fees and charges scheme modelled on best practices of other UK regulators. It aims to launch the new scheme in April 2011.
Marine Licences
A marine licence is a new legal requirement under Section 66 (8) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, which states consent is required to use a vehicle, vessel, aircraft, marine structure or floating container to remove any substance or object from the sea bed within the UK marine licensing area.
Infrastructure Planning Commission
The Infrastructure Planning Commission is an independent body which makes decisions on applications for nationally significant infrastructure projects. These are the large scale facilities that support the economy and vital public services. This includes railways, large wind farms, power stations, reservoirs, harbours, airports and sewage treatment works. The MMO will also advise the IPC on marine spatial planning matters and on certain deemed consents. The general public can have their views considered at the following stages of a development application.
- During the public consultations on the draft NPSs.
- When applications are being prepared for submission to the IPC – at this stage developers are required to consult with local communities about their proposals and have regard to views expressed.
- During the IPC’s examination of applications – when individuals and groups who have registered their interest can submit evidence in writing.
- Taking part in the open floor hearings chaired by IPC Commissioners during their examinations of proposals.
National Policy Statements
Ports around England and Wales will soon have a new planning framework to work in when considering large scale developments, due to the launch of the Government's new National Policy Statement (NPS) for the sector. These Statements are provided for by the Planning Act 2008. The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), also created under that Act, will be required (subject to certain statutory exceptions) to determine planning cases in accordance with the relevant NPS, once it has been ratified after consultation. Under the present system, harbour developments are subject to harbour revision or empowerment orders under the Harbours Act 1964. In some cases additional planning consents under Town and Country Planning legislation, and/or the Transport and Works Act, are required in parallel. The new system will simplify applications by providing for these consents to be combined in one Development Consent Order.
