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Marine Renewable Energy

Marine Bill

The onshore planning system is now rebust and understood by developers. The same cannot be said for offshore. The Queen's speech at the opening of this parliamentary session laid down the proposal for a Marine Bill. The idea of this Bill, is amoungst other priorities, is to lay down a system that creates more certainty for developers in the marine environment.

The Bill seeks to address all users of the marine environment to ensure a sustainable approach to the use of the sea. Its main aims are to streamline the consenting process; address the possible need for an overarching body with responsibility for the marine evironment (what many are refering to as a marine agency) and undertake an evaulation as to the necessity of Marine Spatial Planning.

Marine Spatial Planning is seen as a tool that gives certainty to all users of the sea. It can lay down areas that address specific conservation, fishing, navigation and development needs. By highlighting these areas, users have a much better idea of where they can or can't use the sea. It is argued that this approach could have avoided many of the problems associated with the Offshore Wind Round 2 developments.

DEFRA is leading the drafting of the legislation and at the moment the Bill is very much at an embryonic stage. DEFRA is seeking to get a draft bill before parliament in 16 months time. DEFRA is seeking to consult with all stakeholders directly and welcomes any direct contact.

Marine Bill and Marine Spatial Planning Links

DEFRA MSP Irish Sea Pilot Consortium
http://mspp.abpmer.co.uk/mspp/index.asp

WWF: Marine Act Campaign and Draft Marine Bill
http://www.wwf.org.uk/marineact/

WWF: Marine Protected Areas and Marine Spatial Planning
http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/MPAs-marinespacialplanning.pdf

RSPB: Potential Benefits of Marine Spatial Planning to economic activity in the UK
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/MSPUK_tcm5-66082.pdf

English Nature: Review of how the Land Use Planning System could Influence the Development of Marine Spatial Planning for England
http://www.englishnature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/566.pdf

English Nature: The Practical Implementation of Marine Spatial Planning - understanding and addressing cumulative impacts
http://www.englishnature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/599.pdf