A practical introduction to the process of authorisation of port or harbour schemes in England. It is aimed at potential developers and/or consultants who are new to the subject and outlines the permissions required, as well as some of the issues to be considered, when bringing forward a scheme that includes a harbour. The note focuses on applications for orders under the Harbours Act 1964 (“the 1964 Act”), which remains the relevant consenting process for any port and harbour developments (including marinas) that do not meet one of the thresholds for nationally significant infrastructure. The note also mentions some relevant policy matters that potential developers should be aware of. Finally, it describes the key skill-sets that will be required in the project team in order to put together a compliant application.