The application for consent gave full details of the location of the proposed farm
areas, the equipment to be deposited and the design of the equipment, the schedule
of construction, the operation methods and management procedures for the farm,
and the likely gross cost of the project.
Details of the application were then circulated for individual consideration to
statutory bodies with responsibility for:
• Natural environment—Natural England
• Historic and cultural environment—English Heritage
• Defense—Ministry of Defense
• Navigation—Maritime and Coast Guard Agency
• Local government—East Devon District Council, Devon County Council
• Fisheries—Department of Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs
• Fish and shellfish health—Fish Health Inspectorate
• Food standards—Food Standards Agency
• Water quality—Environment Agency
• Ownership of the seabed—The Crown Estate.
The application was also circulated to interested non-statutory bodies such as
fishermen’s organizations, local environment groups, angling clubs and sailing
clubs for comment. The availability of the application was published in local
newspapers and copies of the application were lodged at the East Devon District
Council local government office to give the general public access to the proposal.
Responses from non-statutory consultees were collated after the 6 week time
limit allowed for public comment and an extension for the consultation period was
granted to the statutory bodies to enable an in-depth consideration of the implications for the natural environment.
Once all the responses were received by the MFA the applicant was given the
opportunity to address any issues raised by the consultees and to make adjustments
to the application where appropriate.
The issues raised included:
• Restrictions to navigation within the farm areas
• Restriction of access to commercial fishing within the farm areas
• The potential for environmental impacts and benefits within and beyond the
farm areas
• The socio-economic effects on the regional and national economy
• Security of supply of seafood at UK and European Community level.
The MFA then considered all responses from the consultees and the applicant
and made the judgement that the Secretary of State should issue a conditional
consent. The process of application, consultation, consideration and decision took
approximately 11 months.
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J.S. Corbin et al.
areas, the equipment to be deposited and the design of the equipment, the schedule
of construction, the operation methods and management procedures for the farm,
and the likely gross cost of the project.
Details of the application were then circulated for individual consideration to
statutory bodies with responsibility for:
• Natural environment—Natural England
• Historic and cultural environment—English Heritage
• Defense—Ministry of Defense
• Navigation—Maritime and Coast Guard Agency
• Local government—East Devon District Council, Devon County Council
• Fisheries—Department of Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs
• Fish and shellfish health—Fish Health Inspectorate
• Food standards—Food Standards Agency
• Water quality—Environment Agency
• Ownership of the seabed—The Crown Estate.
The application was also circulated to interested non-statutory bodies such as
fishermen’s organizations, local environment groups, angling clubs and sailing
clubs for comment. The availability of the application was published in local
newspapers and copies of the application were lodged at the East Devon District
Council local government office to give the general public access to the proposal.
Responses from non-statutory consultees were collated after the 6 week time
limit allowed for public comment and an extension for the consultation period was
granted to the statutory bodies to enable an in-depth consideration of the implications for the natural environment.
Once all the responses were received by the MFA the applicant was given the
opportunity to address any issues raised by the consultees and to make adjustments
to the application where appropriate.
The issues raised included:
• Restrictions to navigation within the farm areas
• Restriction of access to commercial fishing within the farm areas
• The potential for environmental impacts and benefits within and beyond the
farm areas
• The socio-economic effects on the regional and national economy
• Security of supply of seafood at UK and European Community level.
The MFA then considered all responses from the consultees and the applicant
and made the judgement that the Secretary of State should issue a conditional
consent. The process of application, consultation, consideration and decision took
approximately 11 months.
218
J.S. Corbin et al.