Brighton Marina dredging plan could see material taken to Newhaven

Premier Marinas says it is carrying out detailed modelling and technical assessments, to establish whether the licensed marine disposal site can be used as an alternative to the long-established site at Rottingdean.

The company is hoping to submit a marine licence application to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in November, subject to the outcome of the work.

It is targeting the return of maintenance dredging at Brighton Marina in spring 2027.

The marina requires regular dredging to maintain navigable depths and safe access.

Dredged material has historically been disposed of at the licensed Rottingdean site, which was established for that purpose before the area was designated as a Marine Conservation Zone in 2013.

In May 2025, the MMO granted Premier a new 10-year licence to continue dredging and disposal at Rottingdean.

However, the licence was subsequently quashed following a legal challenge by Sussex Wildlife Trust over the MMO's decision-making process.

Premier said there was no finding that Brighton Marina's dredging operation had caused or would cause environmental harm, but the company was legally required to stop dredging once the licence ceased to have effect.

Premier submitted a separate one-year marine licence application in March 2026 to allow maintenance dredging and disposal at Rottingdean while a longer-term solution was developed. That application remains under consideration.

The marina operator says it has been examining the limited number of alternative disposal sites available.

It says sites to the west of Brighton have effectively been ruled out because they could potentially increase natural sedimentation within the marina.

Premier is now assessing whether the Newhaven site can provide a viable long-term option.

Initial estimates suggest material from Brighton would represent a relatively small increase in the volume of material already received at the Newhaven site. The modelling will examine whether the additional sediment could interact with the Marine Conservation Zone.

John Cervenka, chief operating officer at Premier Marinas, said: “Maintaining safe navigational access to Brighton Marina is not optional. It is a legal requirement and fundamental to the operation of the marina and to the berth holders, businesses and other users who rely on it.

“Brighton Marina is also a major centre of economic activity. Hundreds of people rely on the businesses based here, from marine operators and commercial vessels to hospitality, leisure and retail. Finding a dependable long-term dredging solution therefore matters to the whole community and the city of Brighton.

“We’ve been doing a significant amount of work behind the scenes to find that solution. Newhaven is an established marine disposal site and was identified as a potential alternative early in the discussions around Rottingdean.

“We’re now doing the detailed assessments needed to understand properly what using that site would mean, both environmentally and operationally for our dredging delivery partners, before we submit a licence application.”

Premier says almost 150 businesses depend directly on Brighton Marina, including commercial fishing, dive charters, sail training and marine-tour operators, as well as bars, restaurants, leisure and retail businesses.

According to the company, the marina provides direct employment for around 1,200 people and supports economic activity worth around £130 million in gross value added each year.

It also attracts more than eight million visits annually, Premier says.

The company's anticipated timetable is for technical assessment and modelling to be completed in October, followed by a marine licence application to the MMO in November.

The MMO would then undertake its validation, consultation and determination process, with Premier targeting spring 2027 for the start of dredging under the proposed long-term arrangements.

Premier has briefed Brighton berth holders about the work and says it will continue to keep them informed.

If an application for the Newhaven site is submitted, the MMO consultation process will give members of the public an opportunity to make representations.

Mr Cervenka said: “People who use Brighton Marina every day have valuable first-hand experience of why reliable navigable access matters. We also believe those who rely on the marina in other ways should be allowed to express their views too.

“It’s important everyone understands the facts behind the proposals as there has been a lot of misinformation about previous activities in the past.

“Having access to the relevant information and being able to contribute their own views through the formal consultation process is important.”