MARA currently prioritises applications related to Critical State Infrastructure in line with Government policy and recent legislation. In light of the recent designation by Government of certain projects under the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026, MARA has undertaken an analysis of those projects as to whether they have a potential interaction with the Maritime Area. A small number of projects have been identified, and MARA has today written to the relevant bodies outlining the support available from MARA should these projects fall within MARA’s regulatory remit.
In addition, as part of MARA’s ongoing programme of improvements to its licensing processes, MARA has also in recent days written to a number of applicants for a Maritime Usage Licence (MUL) with updates on the status of their application. The initiative is intended to provide greater clarity and transparency for applicants whose applications have been under consideration for more than three months and who have not yet received a decision as to whether public consultation is required under the Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations of 2011. As application volumes and competing priorities continue to place demands on regulatory resources, MARA recognises the importance of keeping applicants informed about where their application sits in the process and what they can expect next.
Speaking on behalf of MARA, Laura Brien, Chief Executive Officer said “We recognise that waiting for a regulatory decision can create uncertainty for applicants. Writing directly to applicants whose applications are more than three months old is an important step in providing greater transparency about where their application stands and what happens next. The prioritisation process enables us to manage applications in a fair, consistent, and risk-based way, while ensuring that our resources are directed towards the matters that require the most urgent attention. We will continue to keep applicants informed as their applications progress.”
MARA expects that for most activities requiring a MUL, applications on hand at the end of June will have received a determination by year-end 2026. MARA continues to monitor the application process and will provide further updates as applications progress.