UKMPG members attach great importance to fostering strong links with local communities and other stakeholders. Ports are important transport hubs and can also play a crucial role in the local economy. It is important that those who live near ports are kept well informed about future developments and have an opportunity to offer views when appropriate.

There are a variety of ways in which ports keep local communities in the picture about their activities, including holding local meetings, arranging port tours and making full information available on their websites. Ports attach great importance to consulting local interests about proposals for development. Increasingly ports are developing master plans to explain the main current activities of the port and set out the main options for development for the future looking over a period of up to 25 or so years. Several such plans have recently been published in draft form as a basis for local consultation.

On planning, the Marine Management Organisation plays a key role as they are the body that licenses, regulates and plans activities in the seas around England and Wales. UKMPG liaises regularly with the MMO on a range of issues.

With the localism agenda, Local Enterprise Partnerships are becoming increasingly important and UKMPG aims to continually extend and improve its relationships with LEPs.

For more information, see:
Marine Management Organisation
LEP Network