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Large scale or more complex developments often have to be supported by assessments that show what the impact of the development proposals would be on the local natural and man-made environment. Such assessments supplement the relevant consent application and the cost will need to be met by the applicant. Please also see the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) Guidance on Assessments. Developers must also factor in sufficient time for these assessments to be made and must be prepared for conditions to be attached to the consents if granted where an issue has been raised. For example, work may only be allowed at certain times of the year to prevent disturbance of nesting birds or migrating fish.
Potential assessments that you may need to consider are Environmental Impact Assessment, Habitats Regulations Assessments, Water Framework Directive Assessment, Marine Conservation Zone Assessment, Fisheries Impact Assessment, Biosecurity Risk Assessment, Underwater Noise Assessment and Navigational Risk Assessment. We look at some of the most important ones below.
Defra encourages the use of the coastal concordat so that regulatory bodies can co-ordinate the separate processes for coastal development consents in England.
This page reviews the following commonly required assessments:
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are a way of determining, in a systematic way, a projects likely significant environmental effects. They are required under Council Directive 85/336/EC, more commonly known as the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive or EIA Directive. The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007 (as amended) puts into practice the EIA Directive in relation to marine licences.
Typical types of development that require an EIA are:
An EIA is a multi-stage process. It begins with a screening process which decides whether an EIA is required. For marine works it is the MMO, in consultation with its statutory consultees, that decides whether an EIA is required and they will base their opinion on a report prepared by the applicant. This report should contain a plan showing the proposed location of the development, a brief description of the nature, purpose and size of the proposal and an indication of its possible environmental effects. All screening opinions are published on a public register along with any reports the applicant provides to inform the assessments. Looking at this register is also a useful way for an applicant to view past EIA submissions. For shoreside developments it is the local planning authority (LPA) that will decide the need for an EIA (in consultation with statutory consultees). Where the development crosses the land/sea boundary the MMO and the LPA will decide who will be the 'lead authority' to process the application. This will depend on the exact nature of the development. The Environmental Statement is the concluding information from the EIA which is put forward by the applicant in conjunction with application for planning permission/Marine Licence for the project.
A Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) is needed for a development which is within or adjacent to a protected site. Carrying out the HRA process is the responsibility of the decision maker as the competent authority, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the information that required to undertake it. This assessment is a formal way of applying the Habitat Regulations to a development. As part of the HRA process, an Appropriate Assessment (AA) will be required if Natural England or the Environment Agency believe that the proposals are likely to have a Significant Effect upon the site’s features. An AA may also be required even if the proposals are not located within a European Site but are still likely to impact upon it. An AA is a specific part of the HRA and is a way of appraising the potential effects of a plan or a project on European Sites (Special Protection Areas (SPA), Special Area for Conservation (SAC) or proposed SPAs and Ramsar sites), or in an area recognised as important for marine species such as seals and cetaceans. Natural England have produced a flowchart that sets out the process.
There is an onus on the applicant to contact Natural England to check that their proposals will not have a significant effect on a Marine Protected Area even if it is considered to be permitted development. Please read Natural England's Guidance Note on European Protected Species and the Planning Process for detailed information on this topic. Your local planning authority will be able to advise as to whether your plans are considered permitted development.
Natural England’s conservation advice for marine protected areas (MPAs) provides the most up-to-date available information so that users can consider the potential effects of their proposed activity, plan or project upon the conservation interests (‘site integrity’) of a particular MPA. By referring to the site information, the maps, the Advice on Operations, conservation objectives and supplementary advice, the seasonality tables, and existing management measures as the situation dictates; users can begin to build a picture of which key conservation issues may need to be dealt with if a particular plan project is to go ahead. This information can be accessed via the Designated Sites website.
It has provided supplementary material to support understanding of the evidence behind the components of the Conservation Advice for Marine Protected Areas. A series of guidance videos, FAQs, glossary and supporting material aids users navigate and understand Advice for MPAs. it includes a flowchart detailing the MCZ Assessment process.
Fishing activity in Marine Protected Areas (MPA) is managed and monitored through a separate process. To understand what impact fishing activity is having on an MPA, an MPA assessment is completed. It provides information on the MPA designated feature(s), details of what fishing activity takes places within the area and the impact of this activity on the site feature(s).
The Maintenance Dredge Protocol was established by Defra to provide a mechanism for assessing the potential impacts of maintenance dredging in Marine Protected Areas. The Protocol recommends the preparation of a ‘baseline document’ which should cover all maintenance dredging within a single estuary or appropriate unit of area.
This document should be prepared and primarily kept up to date by the Statutory Harbour/port/navigation Authority(s) in the area, with assistance from those ports, berth operators and marinas wishing to undertake or commission maintenance dredging operations. In the Solent most of the harbours and ports have completed their baseline documents. Natural England contributes to their initial drafting and periodic review. If Natural England is satisfied with the document’s conclusions then it will formally endorse the document.
Where dredging proposals fit within the tolerance range set by Natural England, it will issue a standard consideration letter and it should be possible for the MMO to determine a consent in the knowledge that there will not be an adverse affect. However, where the scale of dredging departs significantly from the tolerance range described in the document, Natural England may ask the applicant to give additional consideration to the possible effects of the proposed dredge and it may require an Appropriate Assessment.
This Protocol only applies to the process of dredging and not the subsequent disposal of spoil.
The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) has developed Guidelines to promote good practice in Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) relating to terrestrial, freshwater and coastal environments (to the mean low water mark) in the UK. EcIA is a process of identifying, quantifying and evaluating potential effects of development-related or other proposed actions on habitats, species and ecosystems. The findings of an assessment can help competent authorities understand ecological issues when determining applications for consent. EcIA can be used for the appraisal of projects of any scale including the ecological component of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). When undertaken as part of an EIA, EcIA is subject to the relevant EIA Regulations. However unlike EIA, EcIA on its own is not a statutory requirement. It is a best practice evaluation process undertaken to support a range of assessments.
Where a development is proposed within an area shown to be located within a flood risk zone a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) will need to be submitted with the planning application. FRAs are only required under national planning policy where development is located within:
For advice related to an FRA for a planning application or marine licence, please contact: Sustainable Places, Environment Agency – Solent & South Downs, email: planningssd@environment-agency.gov.uk.
If it is related to an FRA for an Environmental permit for flood risk activity, please contact: Hampshire & Isle of Wight Partnerships & Strategic Overview, Environment Agency – Solent & South Downs, email: psohiow@environment-agency.gov.uk.
The Environment Agency's flood maps for planning can be used by the public to identify whether a site is located within a flood risk area. Their Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management appraisal guidance manual explains how to complete an appraisal for a Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management strategy or project in England. It also explains how to create a business case to support an application for FCERM funding in line with government policy.
The sea from the mean low water mark to one nautical mile from shore is protected under the Water Environment Regulations, 2017 which requires that a project or activity does not ‘cause or contribute to deterioration in water body status’. A Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessment helps regulatory authorities understand the impact of a proposed development or activity to satisfy these Regulations. The consenting authority must ensure the activity: (i) does not cause or contribute to deterioration of the status of a water body; (ii) supports the achievement of the Environmental Objectives; and (iii) does not jeopardise the future achievement of good status for any water body. The Environment Agency is the competent authority for WFD Assessments, it also advises the MMO on water quality issues before a marine licensing decision is made.
WFD assessments also consider whether the proposal complies with the relevant River Basin Management Plans (RBMP), these aim to prevent deterioration of the water environment and improve water quality by managing water in natural river basin districts. They look at ecological, physio-chemical, quantitative and morphological aspects of the water environment and require improvements take account of economic aspects, including costs and benefits. The Solent lies within the South East River Basin Management Plan and is currently in moderate ecological status. The competent authority in the UK for river basin planning is the Environment Agency and delivery is made through Catchment Based Partnerships (CaBa). View the Environment Agency's webmapper for more details on specific locations.
View sample WFD Assessment Template.
You may need an environmental permit if you discharge liquid effluent or waste water (poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, waste matter, or trade or sewage effluent): into surface waters, for example, rivers, streams, estuaries, lakes, canals or coastal waters (known as water discharge activities). You need to apply to the Environment Agency for a permit for any standalone water discharge or groundwater activity - standalone means the activity is not part of a waste operation, installation or mining waste operation. Defra and the Environment Agency have produced Guidance that shows you what to do if you need to change, transfer or cancel your environmental permit.
Pipelines may be constructed in the marine area for many different reasons including on behalf of water utility companies, as part of energy generation activities and industrial developments.
When a developer obtains a marine licence they may still need to separately apply for consent from other parts of government. Other relevant agencies could include the Crown Estate, as the owners of the seabed and the Environment Agency, whose remit includes water quality permits.
If the pipeline is constructed in a Marine Protected Area this would need to be in line with the guidance and features of the site, and these factors would be considered during any consent application process. Natural England will be able to give further advice.
Marine non licensable activities are those that do not require a marine licence under section 66 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 . These include shore based activities such as bait collection and beach recreation as well as water based activities such as sailing and motor boating. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for the management of marine non-licensable activities which take place within its jurisdiction (0-12nm). However there are many foreshore activities, which already fall within the remit of existing Regulators and the MMO does not add further layers of management unnecessarily where the issue is already addressed by others.
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