Coastal Concordat
Coastal development can be complex as often multiple consents can be required from different organisations. The Coastal Concordat provides a framework within which separate processes for consenting coastal developments can be better coordinated, supporting the delivery of sustainable growth of the coastal zone.
The Concordat provides a framework within which separate processes for consenting coastal developments can be better coordinated. It forms the basis of discussions between the main statutory regulatory bodies and local planning authorities.
The Coastal Concordat applies to the consenting of coastal developments in England where several authorities have a regulatory function. Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council have all adopted the this framework. The Concordat approach can be applied to applications that:
- span the intertidal area in estuaries and on the coast, and
- require multiple consents, including both a marine licence and a planning permission from the local planning authority.
It doesn’t apply to projects that are purely terrestrial or that already have coordination mechanisms in place, for example National Significant Infrastructure developments.
The Coastal Concordat outlines five principles that the regulatory bodies and local planning authority will promote:
Applicants seeking regulatory approval should be provided with a single point of entry into the regulatory system, guiding them to the organisations responsible for the range of consents, permissions and licences may be required for their development.
Regulators should agree a single lead authority for coordinating the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive or Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA).
Where opportunities for dispensing or deferring regulatory responsibilities are legally possible and appropriate, they should be taken.
Where possible, at the pre-application stage, competent authorities and statutory advisors should agree the likely environmental assessment evidence requirements of all authorities at all stages of the consenting process.
Where possible regulators and statutory advisors should each provide coordinated advice to applicants from across their respective organisations.