Consents For Which MCEU Has Responsibility
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The MCEU administers a range of statutory controls that apply to marine works, including all construction, coastal defences, dredging and the disposal of waste materials at sea in waters around England and Wales for which responsibility is vested in the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Assembly for Wales (see role of the MCEU and consents Authorities).
These controls are exercised under the following statutes - click the appropriate link for further information on each, to download detailed guidance or to make an application for consents to undertake marine works :
Food & Environment Protection Act 1985 Part II (Deposits in the Sea)
[ Note: the MCEU does not process applications under the Transport and Works Act 1992, which are administered by the Transport and Works Act Unit at the Department for Transport. ]
A Geographical Information System (GIS) of marine works consents data is shortly to become available through this website (see also Public Register). In addition to the controls which the MCEU administers, a developer may require a variety of other consents (see also geographical jurisdiction)
The MCEU also processes applications for burial at sea of human remains and the approval of oil spill treatment / dispersant products for use in UK waters under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.
The MCEU has established the Marine Consents Liaison Group (MCLG) to serve as an informal forum for the exchange of views and information about the work of the Unit and marine consents matters generally.
The Defra's marine policy objectives were set out in the Department's document 'Safeguarding our Seas' published in May 2002. Later that year the Department issued a consultative paper that conidered how these objectives were to be pursued, including, how to develop a practical application of the ecosystem-based approach; the involvement of stakeholders in the development of coastal and marine policy; the scope and content of future reports; and the consultation procedure. The Government's response to the comments received was published in May 2003.
One of the initiative to arise out of this process was to investiagte the feasibility and practical application of developing a syetm of spatial planning in the marine environment. The first stage was to commission a pilot study to test the practicability of implementing marine spatial planning in the UK . The study involves a literature review of relevant experience together with the development of a simulated pilot plan for part of the Irish Sea.