Construction Licences

The Department of Environment (DOE) licences for marine construction works, beach nourishment and land reclamation. These licence applications undergo a similar assessment and consultation process as in disposal applications.

Land reclamation

However, there are exemptions to materials/activities that may not require a licence. These exemptions are listed in the Deposits in the Sea (Exemptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1995. This order lists such activities as the deposit of fishing gear, shellfish cultivation, moorings or aids for navigation, scientific equipment and the maintenance of coast protection and so on.

The DOE has authorised a wide range of activities ranging from:

• Disposal of dredged material from maintenance dredging of ports and harbours keeping navigational channels to the required depth
• Disposal of dredged material arising from capital dredging schemes involving the excavation of additional seabed material to increase the width, depth or reaches of navigational areas
• New harbour development and coastal protection works
• Submarine pipes and cables require Food and Environment Protection Act (FEPA) licences: the DOE has issued licences for cross channel gas pipelines, telecommunication cables and electricity interconnector cables
• Beach nourishment programmes.