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Fortunately, large projects such as Dibden Bay are rare. But a myriad of small projects, each having an almost insignificant effect can produce a cumulative ‘salami slicing’ of the environment. There is therefore no justification that they should escape the process altogether.
However, the amount of investigation that a developer should bear should be proportionate to the scale of the development. Roads are collapsing on the south coast of the Isle of Wight, and one is forced to wonder whether projects to stabilise the cliffs may have been among those that Isle of Wight Council could not contemplate because of the cost of going through the consents process.
Even routine maintenance, such as pile replacement, can become a major exercise, such as on the Hamble where the need to replace many piles has precipitated consideration of a major re-arrangement of moorings to improve environment, safety, and ease of management – as well as anticipating future regulation of wastes and sewage. At least this process should have the advantage that once the strategic direction is settled, future consents for individual pile repairs should be almost automatic.
In one well known case, the cost of obtaining consents to dredge a marina cost more than the dredge itself, partially because of insistence by English Nature and the Environment Agency that major studies were required. However, an even greater irritant was the late statement by the Environment Agency of a need for a disposal licence. Coordination of the consents process is an urgent need.
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