Governance, decision-making and publicness in marine space

Abstract

This research explores the relationship between the publicness of the sea and the process through which marine development is assessed and consented within England’s Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) marine licensing framework. This is undertaken through the use of additional research questions which explore the publicness of marine governance frameworks and the marine development decision making process. The publicness of the sea is also defined and explored. The research uses a case study approach to explore these questions. This is supplemented by analysis of marine policy and legislation, quantitative marine licensing data and additional application case examples to contextualise the case study within the marine licensing decision making process. The main case study focuses on the Goodwin Sands intertidal and subtidal sandbank complex located in the South East Inshore Marine Plan area. By focusing on this area, and a controversial marine licence application for development activity within it, this research explores the multiple representations which produce meaning and value within the Goodwin Sands. The conceptual framework applies the Production of Space thesis to the case study area to help to understand the conflicts present within the case study marine licence application. The results show that when the representations of a proposed marine development space within application assessment and support documents are limited to categories within the Environmental Impact Assessment process there is a risk of major objection from local publics. The Goodwin Sands is a social space produced through the relationship between its unique physicality, its historical and contemporary uses and its mythology and legend. Whilst these are not material planning considerations, having regard for them within development decision making would help to mitigate objection through working collaboratively with local publics. This research emphasises the need to engage in meaningful public consultation during development consent processes within MSP. This includes identifying affected publics and gaining an understanding of the social and cultural landscape which are given expression through marine development consent objection.