The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is seeking views on proposals to revise Harbour Order (HO) application fees. The consultation, which launches on 16th July, gives Local Harbour Authorities and anyone interested in, or involved with, harbour activities that take place in England and the Port of Milford Haven (a reserved trust port) the chance to have their say on the proposed changes.

HO has been administered by the MMO since 2010, through a delegated function from the Department for Transport (DfT). However, the current fee structure was last updated 25 years ago in 1994 and does not reflect the actual costs to the MMO in determining HO applications, nor does it recognise the increased complexity of these applications.

Despite significant under recovery of costs since 2010, the MMO has taken actions to improve services and increase efficiencies in the processing of HO. This includes the allocation of dedicated resource via the creation of the Harbour Orders Team, improving online guidance to assist applicants, and streamlining internal processes, all of which have contributed to a significant decrease in the average application time from 29 months (2008-2011) to 12.5 months (2012-2018)

Going forward the MMO intends to make further improvements to the HO service by further enhancing online guidance and providing a named case officer for each HO application. However, it is difficult for the MMO to sustain the current level of service provided or pursue any further improvements to the HO service at the current level of cost recovery; especially as we face competing priorities and increasing pressure on resource and Government subsidy.

As a result, the MMO and DfT are now proposing to revisit HO fees, in-line with HM Treasury guidelines on Managing Public Money and to ensure that a greater proportion of the cost of a HO application is met by applicants.

To submit your response to the consultation you are invited to:

• complete the online questionnaire provided through Citizen Space a response through this means would be preferable as it allows for more efficient analysis of responses and a quicker government response to the consultation.

Or if this is not possible, you can also respond:

• by email to harbourorders@marinemanagement.org.uk (please mark the subject line as Harbour Orders Consultation)

• in writing to: Harbour Orders Team, Lancaster House, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle, NE4 7YH

The eight-week consultation will close at midnight on 10th September 2019.

The application submitted by Norfolk Boreas Limited for a proposed Offshore Wind Farm (Power Station) – Maximum Capacity 1.8GW also associated infrastructure required to export the electricity to the National Grid substation at Necton in Norfolk. The proposed Norfolk Boreas site is approximately 73km from the Norfolk coast at its nearest point and was accepted by The Planning Inspectorate for examination on 4 July 2019.

Further information about the project can be found in the development consent application documents which are available on the The Planning Inspectorate website

The public and those interested in the proposal can register with the Planning Inspectorate until midnight on 1 September 2019.

Alternatively, they may call The Planning Inspectorate’s helpline: 0303 444 5000 for a printed registration form.

Sarah Richards, Chief Executive of The Planning Inspectorate said. “This is an opportunity for people to play a part in the planning process and influence the outcome. We encourage people to get involved by registering as an interested party. By doing so, people will be able to participate fully in the examination of this proposal”.

Those who register will be entitled to provide evidence in writing to support their representation, to attend the Preliminary Meeting, to request an open floor hearing and to speak at other hearings where appropriate.

A copy of the application together with further information about the proposal and how to register to make a relevant representation is available on The Planning Inspectorate website.

Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate’s Press Office, on: 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email: press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.

More information on this application, including details of the developer’s website, is available in National Infrastructure’s Programme of Projects. Visit: the Projects page.

Notes to editors:

• The Planning Inspectorate is an agency of the Ministry for Housing, communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and operates within the policy framework prescribed in the Planning Act 2008, secondary legislation and the National Policy Statements.

The process in a snapshot

There are six key stages within the process. The summary below provides examples of when and how people have an opportunity to provide evidence to the Planning Inspectorate.

Pre-application

Key activities:

• Project development / developer’s pre-application consultation and publicity.
• Environmental impact assessment preparation and scoping, where required.

Public involvement:

• Have their say on the proposal to the developer through their pre application consultation

Acceptance by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State

Key activities:

• The Secretary of State has 28 days from the day after receipt to decide whether or not an application should be accepted for examination

Public involvement:

• Details will be posted at the Planning Inspectorate’s website on how to register as an interested party – if an application has been accepted for examination and publicised by the developer.
• Opportunity to legally challenge a decision not to accept an application.

Pre-examination

Key activities:

• Single Inspector or a Panel of Inspectors appointed.
• Preliminary Meeting called and held.
• Procedure and timetable set for examination.

Public involvement:

• Register to say what you agree or disagree with in the application
• Submit your representation
• View application documents submitted by the developer on the Planning Inspectorate website
• Attend the Preliminary Meeting
• Say how the examination should be conducted.

Examination

Key activities:

• A maximum of six months to carry out the examination

Public involvement:

• Submit more detailed comments in writing
• Comment on what other people have said
• Request and attend an open-floor hearing
• If being held, request to speak at open-floor and / or issue specific hearing(s)
• Comment on the local authority’s Local Impact Report – detailing the impact of the scheme on the local area.

Decision

Key activities:

• A maximum of three months for Planning Inspectorate to issue a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, with a statement of reasons.

• The relevant Secretary of State then has a further three months from receiving the recommendation in which to issue the decision.

Post decision

Key activities:

• Six weeks for any legal challenge.

Public involvement: Opportunity to challenge.

Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, and the Independent Site Management Lead, Doug Patterson, exchange letters on the future management of the Grenfell Tower site. This follows government taking freehold ownership of the Grenfell Tower site.

Defendant cast a drift net from his boat while inside a conservation zone