Jurisdiction: United Kingdom
Commencement: 12th February 2026
Amends:
- Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c.55)
- Marine (Scotland) Act 2010
- Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
Mini Summary
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c.55) establishes a number of frameworks to speed up the planning system, hold developers to account and encourage the construction of new homes in the United Kingdom.
The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 introduces a framework for Marine Planning, which allows the Scottish Government to introduce general policies and a National Marine Plan. It will set out policies for marine environments and allows for the designation of Marine Protected Areas. It also introduces requirements relating to licensing activities carried out in the marine environment and the conservation of seals.
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 implement a marine planning system which makes requirements for a statement of the Government’s general policies, and the general policies of each of the devolved administrations, for the marine environment. It also sets out requirements for marine plans which will set out in more detail what is to happen in the different parts of the areas to which they relate.
Duties
Various duties apply and are available to view on the Legislation Update Service.
Amendment
The Act enables the UK to implement the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (the BBNJ Agreement).