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.

Marine Policy Statement

Following the Marine Policy Statement discussion paper pre-consultation early 2010, the Draft Marine Policy Statement is now available for consultation. The Marine Policy Statement (UK) will be the first part of new systems of marine planning being introduced around the UK. It will provide the high level policy context within which Marine Plans will be developed, and set the direction for marine licensing and other relevant authorisation systems.
The Marine Policy Statement will be the overarching policy framework for the UK marine area.

Submit your views to the RTPI by 15th September 2010.

Marine Planning System

The Marine Planning System consultation sets out the marine planning system in England for the new Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and other interested organisations and persons. It aims to provide a context for the Marine Policy Statement consultation by outlining the planning system in England as a whole.

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. 

Submit your views to the RTPI by 15th September 2010

Marine Licensing System

A new Marine Licensing System introduced by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 will be launched in spring 2011. The consultation (England only) sets out policy proposals for the implementation of the new system, covering key aspects including the application process, appeals against licensing decisions, and exemptions.

Submit your views to the RTPI by 15th September 2010.

Marine Management Organisation

The new Marine Management Organisation (MMO) became operational on 1 April 2010. The MMO is a UK Government strategic delivery partner, bringing together a number of marine management activities. The MMO works closely with a range of organisations and stakeholders in delivering functions on marine planning, marine licensing, nature conservation and fisheries management and enforcement issues. The MMO subsumes the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA), whose remit and responsibilities will now fall to the MMO.

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 Marine and Coastal Access Act for England received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009.

The RTPI  has formulated:

•  policy statement on marine spatial planning (2006)
• a esponse to the marine white paper (2007)
• a response to the draft Marine Bill (2008)
• a response to the high level marine objectives (2008)
• a response to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Putting in place the legal framework for implementation (2010)
• a response to the Northern Ireland Marine Strategy Directive (2010)
• a response to the Marine Plan Areas (2010)

Much of the RTPI’s work on marine spatial planning is taken forward by the Water and Marine Spatial Planning Group of the RTPI Environmental Planning and Protection Network. The group's main role is advisory, and the group regularly contributes to policy responses prepared by the RTPI on water and marine spatial planning. The group encompasses the role taken previously by the Institute's Marine Spatial Planning Task Group. Members of the group represent public, private, and consultancy interests in the marine environment, with experience ranging from port development and minerals extraction to marine nature conservation. The Group is led by Jed Griffiths and Alec Martin. Membership of the group is open to both RTPI members and non-members, and can be joined via the Network 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:

21-Jul-10

Categories:

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

Sections:

News & Media , What Planning Does

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