Future in Action

Future in Action

Marine Management Plans Adopted for UK

Last week saw the adoption of all the remaining English Marine Plans – in the North West, South East (outer Thames), South West and North West. These join the East (southern North Sea), and South (English Channel) plans adopted some time ago. England now has a complete and integrated marine planning framework to manage how we use, develop, protect and enhance our marine environment.

CEMEX’s Marine team has contributed to the plans’ development over the last few years, along with the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA), part of the MPA. All the plans are positive in terms of marine aggregates, recognising the need for wharf infrastructure and the marine aggregates policies seek to safeguard marine reserve and resource areas. This is increasingly important as demand for sea-space continues to grow.

This means all England’s seas – an area of approximately 230,000 square kilometres – a third larger than the total land area of England – are covered by Marine Plans.

For the first time, England has a complete and integrated marine planning framework to manage how we use, develop, protect and enhance our marine environment. Marine Plans will guide developers, planning authorities and other decision-makers so that their activities happen in a sustainable and coordinated way.

MMO’s Director of Licensing, Marine Planning and Global, Trudi Wakelin said: “The completion of Marine Plans for the whole of England’s seas enables a paradigm shift in marine management for the future. Over the next few months, we will be working with everyone interested to ensure that the plans are understood and used effectively, whether the aim is to build the biggest offshore windfarm or the smallest jetty.

Working together we have the potential to make a huge difference to how our seas are protected and developed for generations to come.”