Reflections from UK Marine Industries on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

The SUDG welcomes the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (PIB) with its aim of securing growth and protecting and improving the environment, which are both entirely in line with SUDG objectives. We see huge value in taking a strategic approach to consider and deliver environmental measures in the marine realm.  

We welcome that approaches will be accessible to all marine industries and all scales of marine development (including but not limited to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPS)), and we strongly support any proposals to extend the jurisdiction of the PIB to the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), further than its current 12nm limit.

We also strongly support that the use of the NRF be optional for all developers, under all circumstances. This will be an important driver in ensuring that an Environmental Development Plan (EDP) is practical, proportionate and fit for purpose.

Finally, we must stress SUDG marine industries’ continued commitment to upholding the mitigation hierarchy, and request that when it comes to the details of implementation, the principles of the mitigation hierarchy are upheld and supported by any new legislation.

Further details can be found in the paper below.

Planning and Infrastructure bill_Reflections from SUDG marine industries .pdf

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