Defra has provided Parliament with the first six year progress report on marine planning in England which is a reporting requirement of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. It was laid before Parliament on 5th November 2015. It is short and succinct as only one set of plans (East Inshore and East Offshore) have yet to be completed and adopted, with the South Inshore and South Offshore plans currently in preparation with a view to public consultation on drafts in early 2016. The remaining plans have to be in place by April 2021 to comply with the new EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, but the timing for individual plan development is not known and will be informed by the 2015 Government Comprehensive Spending Review. To view the report click here.
