Marine Planning Zones extension proposals: consultation analysis

Background

Marine planning zones set out the spatial limits for local authorities' responsibilities for planning controls of marine fish and shellfish farms in Scottish waters.

In 2007 the definition of “development” in the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (“the 1997 Act”) was amended to include fish and shellfish farming out to 12 nautical miles. This means that any proposed marine fish or shellfish farm located between 0-12 nautical miles requires planning permission from the relevant planning authority.

However, the Town and Country Planning (Marine Fish Farming) (Scotland) Order 2007 (“the 2007 Order”) only designated Scotland’s marine planning zones out to 3 nautical miles, meaning that there is no designated planning authority to which a developer may submit an application for a farm located between 3-12 nautical miles.

The consultation sought views on Scottish Ministers proposals to extend existing marine planning zones out to 12 nautical miles, via a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI), to resolve this existing gap in aquaculture planning regulations.