MMO grants marine licence to marine development project following collaboration and joint working.

MMO ‘Last month the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) granted a marine licence to Associated British Ports (ABP) for the development of the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF).

This followed a period of collaboration and joint working, beginning in November 2020, when ABP applied to the MMO to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for reconstruction of the existing quay in the Outer Harbour at the Port of Lowestoft. The proposed works also required a capital dredge of the approach channels and a maintenance dredge and disposal programme to be put in place once construction was completed.

Joint meetings were organised to ensure MMO and East Suffolk Council Local Planning Authority (LPA), could work collaboratively and adopt principles under the Coastal Concordat. A joint consultation was then launched to coordinate responses from stakeholders. Both MMO and LPA shared information on associated impacts to produce scoping opinions under individual legislation.

The joint working continued when the EIA Marine Licence Application (MLA) followed, with MMO again working with the LPA for a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). This included consulting and advertising together to reduce the regulatory burden on the applicant and consultees. The consent decision and marine licence was then issued and ABP is now able to proceed with the works, while complying with the licence conditions.’

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