Statutory guidance: The South Marine plans documents

Updated: Modification report added

Published July 2018 the South Inshore and South Offshore Marine Plan provides guidance for sustainable development from Folkstone in Kent to the River Dart in Devon.

Marine plans address the key issues for the area, setting a vision and objectives. Detailed policies set out how these will be achieved and how issues will be managed or mitigated. The policies inform decision-making for any activity or development which is in or impacts on a marine area.

Our Marine Information System (MIS) supports decision-makers and applicants using the South Marine Plan. It includes overview of each plan policy by sector and a searchable map of relating data and evidence.

In developing the South Inshore and Offshore Marine Plan we have also published:

  • habitats regulations assessment
  • sustainability appraisal
  • approach to monitoring
  • modification report

Marine plans place sustainability at the centre of all decisions.

The Sustainability Appraisal (SA) provides an independent assessment of economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Public consultation on the Draft South Marine Plan and Draft Technical Annex was held between the 7 November 2016 and the 27 January 2017.

Following this consultation in accordance with the Marine and Coastal Access Act (S15 (7)), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are required to publish statements detailing any modifications made to the consultation draft and the reasons for the modifications. The south plan areas Statement of Public Participation describes how the MMO will analyse all responses to the consultation and produce a summary report setting out comments received and changes made to the plans as a result.

The purpose of this document is to summarise:

  • engagement process on the consultation draft
  • responses received, provide an overview of the levels of agreement with the plans supporting sustainable development and compliance with the Statement of Public Participation
  • changes made from the consultation draft to the South Marine Plan and Technical Annex