Port of Exeter Harbour Revision Order
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-12)

On 12 September 2023, Exeter City Council (“the applicant”) made a formal application to the Marine Management Organisation (“the MMO”) under Section 14 of the Harbours Act 1964 for a Harbour Revision Order (“the HRO”).

If made the order would modernise and consolidate the statutory harbour powers applying in relation to the Port of Exeter (“the Port”). The proposed order provides for the modernisation and alteration of the limits of the Port and Exmouth Docks; clarification of the general functions of the applicant; provisions relating to the application of finances, a reserve fund and borrowing; provisions relating to charges; modernised powers of management and control of the Port to vest in the applicant including in relation to general directions, special directions and byelaws; the establishment of an advisory body or bodies consisting of stakeholders with which the applicant is required to consult on material matters; powers to vest in the applicant including powers to grant tenancies, dispose of land and appropriate land for particular uses; powers relating to other commercial activities, the delegation of functions, powers relating to moorings, bunkering, aids to navigation, dredging, landing places, works, parking places, vehicles and vessels, wrecks, unserviceable vessels and obstructions; and provisions relating to tidal works, Topsham Lock, the abolishment of the Topsham River Commissioners, the power of the applicant to prosecute or defend legal proceedings, notices, savings and Crown Rights.

To facilitate the above, articles 65 to 67 of the proposed order amend the legislation set out in those articles and article 68 of the proposed order repeals and revokes the legislation set out in Schedule 3 to the proposed order.

The proposed order would not authorise the construction or alteration of a project or confer development consent. Accordingly, Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (as amended) which is codified by Council Directive 2011/92/EU (as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU) does not apply to the proposals and no environmental statement has been supplied.

A copy of the draft order and accompanying documents are deposited at the offices of the applicant at: River and Canal Office, Haven Banks, Exeter EX2 8DU. These may be inspected at all reasonable hours until the expiry of the forty-two day period referred to below.

The statutory 42-day public consultation starts on 13 October 2025. The final date for consultation responses to be received is therefore 23 November 2025.

The draft order and accompanying documents are also available for inspection at the offices of the MMO in Newcastle Upon Tyne by appointment at the email address below or may be viewed on the MMO’s website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/harbour-orders-public-register

Any person desiring to make an objection or representation concerning the application should write to the Harbour Orders Team, Marine Management Organisation, Tyneside House, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7AR or email to xxx@xxx.xx. An objection or representation should:
- be received before the expiry of a period of 42 days starting with the date at the foot of this notice;
- be made in writing quoting reference HRO/2023/00006;
- state the grounds of the objection or representation;
- indicate who is making the objection or representation; and
- give an address to which correspondence relating to the objection or representation may be sent.