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Strangely, the Habitats Regulations contain no obligation for consultation on either Plans or Projects or Management schemes. However, there are so many regulations that affect the coastal zone that a long list of consents are likely to be required. Many of these consents processes contain consultation requirements.
But pity the consultees! They are likely to be consulted with regard to
Habitats Regulations
Environmental Impact Assessment
Coast Protection Act consents
Food and Environment Protection Act
(relating to dredging and dumping!)
Drainage
Etc
The many consents required are well described in a paper prepared by Solent Forum, and available on their website. The complexity of the process may be self defeating and lead to decisions that are against the public interest. Complexity is one of the greatest dangers for both developers and objectors. When combined with the Whitehall Loop , government can more or less do whatever it wants!
On major projects (such as Dibden Bay) government is likely to step in to insist that the developer offers a coordinated consultation process. Objectors are likely to be grouped together so that any Inquiry has some logical structure - otherwise nobody would understand it.
But what is strange is that consultation is regarded as if it is something new. There have been port user groups, voluntary groups such as Solent Forum and Society for the Protection of the Solent Area, British Marine Federation, Royal Yachting Association, and so on. They have been consulted for years. What is now required is for these consultation processes to be more apparent, and more transparent.
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