Using Marine Plans
Marine plans are statutory plans that guide and inform how English marine plan areas are used and developed.
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Using Marine Plans
Marine plans support the delivery of government’s vision for ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas’ (Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009). They inform and guide regulation and the management, use and protection of English seas, coastline and communities, enabling economic activity whilst protecting important features and marine ecosystems.
Marine plans inform which developments and activities should be encouraged or avoided through area specific objectives and associated policies. They also outline any other factors or legislation that should be considered in decision-making. Marine plans apply to all decisions within or affecting the marine area, as outlined in Section 58 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. They should be used by anyone who has an interest in the marine area, from public authorities, developers, advisors or interest groups.
This presentation is a guide for decision-makers showing how marine plans are used as part of a plan-led management system.
Marine Plan Implementation Training
Guidance documents
These documents have been developed to illustrate how marine plans should be accounted for and applied in different decision making processes, including marine licensing applications.
Hypothetical Examples of Marine Plan Use
Hypothetical examples of marine plan use
This page provides guidance for marine plan users on making decisions in accordance with section 58 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The guidance is divided into two themes:
- Section 58(1): Enforcement and Authorisation Decisions Three documents use hypothetical examples to show how marine plans inform decisions like marine licences. The approach is recommended for all decision makers, applicants or authorities making similar decisions affecting the marine area.
- Section 58(3): Other Decisions Two documents illustrate how marine plans can support wider public authority functions, such as local plan development.
Common Issues with Marine Plan Policy Assessments
Common issues with Marine Plan Policy Assessments
This document is aimed at marine plan users (applicants and decision-makers) related to section 58(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 whereby all authorisation or enforcement decision must be made in accordance with the appropriate marine policy documents. The hypothetical examples will use the South Marine Plan as the appropriate marine policy document and will indicate some of the main issues identified in completion of effective marine plan policy assessment. However, the approach described can be applied to any marine plan and authorisation under s58(1).
It complements the guidance provided in the marine plan documents and other published MMO guidance on this page. These documents use hypothetical examples of marine plan policy assessment, but do not provide step-by-step instructions.
Marine Planning: A Practical Guide for Local Authorities
Marine Planning: A practical Guide for local authorities
This guide provides an overview of marine plans and the marine planning system. It includes information on how marine planning and land-use planning support each other, how the two systems integrate and how the marine plans should be used.
The Severn Estuary: A cross-border marine planning guide
The Severn Estuary: A cross-border marine planning guide
This guide has been jointly created between the Welsh Government and the Marine Management organisation. It provides an overview of marine planning policies and related considerations relevant to the Severn Estuary.
Marine plan policy assessment in decision-making
Understand marine plan-led decision-making in English waters. This video is aimed at applicants, decision-makers and other marine plan users, and gives an overview on marine plan policy assessment (MPPA), using marine licensing as an example. The video details the benefits of using marine plans in decision-making and highlights best practice for applicants when completing a MPPA.
Marine plan policy assessment in decision-making
Explore Marine Plans
Explore marine Plans is our online mapping service where where you can find marine planning information for England, including data on marine licenses, environmental designations and policy information from regional marine plans.
This presentation is aimed at marine plan users (applicants and decision makers), it takes readers on a walkthrough of how to use Explore Marine Plans. It demonstrates the functionality and provides step-by-step instructions.
Contact the marine planning team
For help with using these resources, or for support in using marine plans, there are marine planning officers for each marine plan area. Please find their details below.
Marine planning officers contact details
If you would like to provide feedback on any of the guidance mentioned, please email planning@marinemanagement.org.uk