Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

24 November 2009

The Marine and Coastal Access Bill received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009 after 17 sessions in Committee in the House of Lords and consideration of over 1,000 amendments.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared –

"The historic, ground-breaking legislation fulfils the Government's 2005 commitment to introduce a new framework for managing the demands we put on our seas, improve marine conservation, and open up access for the public to the English coast."

The new Act will see the establishment of a Marine Management Organisation, based in Newcastle, and Marine Conservation Zones. It will see changes to marine planning, marine licensing and consenting, reforms to the management of inshore and freshwater fisheries and new provisions on coastal access in England.

On of the first areas where the influence of the new legislation may be felt is in the planning and consenting decisions on coastal power stations.

For further information please contact  Ian Salter on +44 (0)117 939 2225 or ian.salter@burges-salmon.com or William Wilson on +44 (0)117 939 2289 william.wilson@burges-salmon.com.