Premier Marinas has submitted an application to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for a 10-year marine licence to resume maintenance dredging at Brighton Marina, the company said on Tuesday. The operator aims to return to dredging in spring 2027, subject to regulatory approval, and proposes to dispose of dredged material at the established marine disposal site off Newhaven.
Why dredging is proposed
Premier Marinas says sediment accumulation within the marina entrance and navigational channels is slowly reducing depths and making it increasingly difficult for vessels to enter and leave safely. The operator argues that regular maintenance dredging is required to maintain access and safe navigation for leisure and commercial craft that use Brighton Marina.
Recent legal and environmental context
No dredging has taken place at Brighton Marina since the previous 10-year licence was quashed on 4 November 2025. That licence had authorised disposal at the Rottingdean site, which lies inside the Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). Sussex Wildlife Trust challenged that authorisation through judicial review and the MMO conceded the case, saying it
"did not assess whether the application had avoided, minimised or mitigated those adverse impacts"in respect of the MCZ.
In response to the legal judgment, Premier Marinas commissioned ABPmer, working jointly with Newhaven Port, to model sediment dispersion across 15 disposal scenarios. The modelling included a worst-case scenario with simultaneous maximum disposal from both Brighton and Newhaven sources. Premier says its analysis shows that adding sediment from Brighton to the Newhaven disposal site would not lead to interaction with the MCZ.
Local reaction and consultation
Sussex Wildlife Trust has made clear it has not endorsed the Newhaven site and prefers a separate offshore disposal location well away from the protected area. Premier Marinas anticipates opening a public consultation in late October or early November, during which local residents, recreational boat owners and environmental groups will be able to respond to the proposal and the modelling the company has produced.
- Operator: Premier Marinas
- Regulator: Marine Management Organisation (MMO)
- Proposed disposal site: Established site off Newhaven
- Previous licence quashed: 4 November 2025
- Target restart: Spring 2027 (subject to approval)
Implications for Brighton
The outcome of the MMO decision and the forthcoming public consultation carries several practical consequences for Brighton. For marina users, dredging would affect navigability and boat access — a key concern for traders, marina businesses and leisure sailors. For residents and environmental groups, the permitted disposal location and the adequacy of the sediment-dispersion modelling are central to assessing potential impacts on marine habitats, including those near the Beachy Head West MCZ.
The MMO has previously been criticised in the judicial review for insufficient assessment of environmental mitigation. That finding underpins the sensitivity of the current application and helps explain why Premier Marinas has re-run modelling with ABPmer and Newhaven Port. The consultation that Premier expects to open later this month or in early November will be the first formal opportunity for Brighton residents and stakeholders to examine the technical work and make representations to the regulator.
| Event | Date / timing |
|---|---|
| Previous licence quashed | 4 November 2025 |
| Premier Marinas application submitted | 20 October 2026 (announced) |
| Planned return to dredging (subject to consent) | Spring 2027 |
| Public consultation expected | Late October or early November 2026 |
For Brighton residents the central questions will be whether the MMO accepts the latest modelling and whether the chosen disposal location sufficiently avoids protected sites. The consultation period will allow local voices to press those points and will be closely watched by environmental groups and marina users alike.
