Marine Policy Statement

Defra have published a discussion paper on the Marine Policy Statement (MPS) which is the first step in new systems of marine planning being introduced around the UK. It is intended to provide the high level policy context within which Marine Plans will be developed, and set the direction for marine licensing and other authorisation systems. The Government are inviting stakeholders to contribute views and comments on the MPS discussion paper and supporting outline Impact Assessment.

The pre-consultation period closes on 7 May 2010.

Click here to email your comments by 9th April 2010, which will contribute to an overall RTPI response.

Developing the Marine Planning System

The RTPI strongly supports the principle that plan-making for the marine environment will improve the outcomes of decisions about marine use and development and has worked with DEFRA and the Scottish Government to translate this support into action. 

The RTPI  has formulated:

• a policy statement on marine spatial planning (2006)
• a formal response to the marine white paper (2007)
• a formal response to the draft Marine Bill (2008)
• a formal response to the high level marine objectives (2008)

RTPI work has been taken forward through a Marine Spatial Planning Task Group, This is a multidisciplinary body of 33 senior planners and other professionals, representing public, private, and consultancy interests in the marine environment, with experience ranging from port development and minerals extraction to marine nature conservation.

What is Marine Spatial Planning?

Marine spatial planning is the idea that, just as on land, the sustainable development of our marine environment requires to be holistically managed with reference to information about the effects of use and development. Decisions should be made to achieve sustainable development, having regard to planning policies prepared using the best available data.

The UK and devolved nations within it have been examining proposals to make plans to guide decision making in the marine environment for some time. The Marine and Coastal Access Act for England received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009.

Implementing the marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

The first stage of the new system of marine planning is the development of the Marine Policy Statement (MPS). The MPS will build upon the high level marine objectives and will set out in one document our policies for the sustainable development of the UK marine area. It will act as a guide to decision making for the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the development of Marine Plans.

The second stage of the new marine planning system is the preparation of a series of marine plans. These will translate the policies in the Marine Policy Statement at local level, applying them in more spatial detail to particular parts of the marine area. Both the Marine Policy Statement and marine plans will guide and direct decisions in the marine environment. Marine plans will be a source of information, which developers and other marine industries can use when considering where and how they might carry out activities.

More information can be found on the Defra website and the Marine and Fisheries Agency website.

Click here to access the RTPI's archive analysis of the draft UK Marine Bill, published by DEFRA in April 2008.

• Click here to access the RTPI's archive coverage of the 2007 Marine White Paper

Author:

Rebecca Coates

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

12-May-07

Categories:

Networks & Associations, Planning / Planning Resources, Planning Matters, Policy, Practice, RTPI News 

Sections:

News & Media , What Planning Does

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