Brighton Marina Dredge and Disposal
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-07)

Brighton Marina Dredge and Disposal marine licence application (MLA/2024/00394).

This summary page will be updated regularly and further information can be found on the public register (https://marinelicensing.marinemanagement.org.uk/mmofox5/fox/live/MMO_PUBLIC_REGISTER) by searching for the marine licence reference number stated above.

Update - November 2025

We notified the judge of our intention not to defend the judicial review on our decision to grant a marine licence for Brighton Marina Dredge and Disposal.

This decision was based on one of the points raised by Sussex Wildlife Trust.

We accept that when making the decision, we concluded that any adverse impacts on marine protected areas were within acceptable limits but did not consider whether the proposal triggered the need to avoid, minimise or mitigate the adverse impacts and did not assess whether the application had avoided, minimised or mitigated those adverse impacts.

Case Status and Update – August 2025

The Sussex Wildlife Trust has applied for permission to bring a judicial review of the MMO’s decision to grant a license for this case.

The MMO has conducted a comprehensive review of the licence application, including consultation with the public, our scientific and primary advisors, and key stakeholders.

The marine licence was granted with conditions, based on the best available scientific evidence.

The MMO was established by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MCAA 2009) to make a contribution to sustainable development in the marine area and to promote clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.

When determining an application for a Marine Licence under MCAA (2009) (Part 4, Chapter xx-xxxx-xxxx), including the terms on which it is granted and what conditions, if any, are to be attached to it, the MMO must have regard to;
- The need to protect the environment
- The need to protect public health
- The need to prevent interference with legitimate users of the sea, and other such matters the MMO thinks relevant
As legal proceedings are ongoing it is not appropriate to comment further at this time.

Case Status and Update – May 2025

Case Summary

The MMO has conducted a comprehensive review of the proposed project, including consultation with the public, our scientific and primary advisors, and key stakeholders.

The MMO has considered all issues raised during consultation when making its decision. Further, the MMO as considered the proposed scheme against the South Marine Plan and found it to be compliant with relevant plan policy. The MMO is content that the representations received were sufficiently addressed by the inclusion of specific conditions within the marine licence.

On 16 May 2025 the MMO made a determination on the application. The MMO consider that the licence should be granted with conditions. A copy of the marine licence and Decision Report is available on the public register by searching for the marine licence reference number stated above.

Case details
- Case name: Brighton Marina Dredge and Disposal
- Applicant name: Premier Marinas
- Marine licence application reference number: MLA/2024/00394
- Type of application: Dredging, Disposal
- Date received: July 2024
- Date Determined: 16 May 2025
- Location: Brighton Marina and Rottingdean Disposal Site
Case summary

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) received a marine licence application (MLA/2024/00394) in July 2024 for a renewal of an existing 10 year licence for the maintenance dredge of Brighton Marina and disposal at the Rottingdean disposal site. The licence application requested that works be licensed from June 2025 to May 2035. The licence is for the 10-year maintenance dredging of Brighton Marina by way of backhoe dredging with split barge taking material to the Brighton/Rottingdean disposal site and a cutter suction dredger operating within the site and pumping the material through the breakwater via a pipe with a mix of 80% water and 20% sediment. The maximum amount to be dredged per campaign is 78,000 metres cubed (m3) at a dredge depth below chart datum (bcd) of 2 metres (m). 1,000,000 wet tonnes will be deposited.

This summary page will be updated regularly and further information can be found on the public register (https://marinelicensing.marinemanagement.org.uk/mmofox5/fox/live/MMO_PUBLIC_REGISTER) by searching for the marine licence application reference number stated above.

Case Status and Update – March 2025

Technical Assessment

The MMO conducted an assessment as to whether the works were capable of falling under Schedules A1 or A2 of The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 for the purposes of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). The MMO confirmed that the cases did not require EIA under Schedule A1 or A2.

The MMO also carried out a Stage 1 Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Assessment under Section 126 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act (MCAA) 2009 as the Brighton/Rottingdean disposal site is within the Beachy Head West MCZ. The MMO concluded that there was no significant risk of hindering the achievement of the conservation objectives for Beachy Head West MCZ with monitoring conditions in place. A Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 was not required as the proposed project is not located within 2 kilometres of any Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or Ramsar Site.

Further assessments were carried out including a Marine Planning Policy Assessment, Water Framework Regulations Assessment, Waste Regulations Assessment, and others as a requisite. Th MMO requested further information from the applicant as required at this stage.

Consultation

Following internal assessment, the case proceeded to consultation under MCAA 2009.

In addition to consulting the public, the MMO consulted the following bodies:
- Local MMO Office (South East Marine Area)
- Natural England
- Environment Agency
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
- Historic England
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency
- Royal Yachting Association
- Trinity House
- Crown Estate
- Sussex Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority
- Brighton Marina
- Shoreham Port
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Public Consultation

Given that the application is a medium priority bank 3 case, the applicant was required to post one advert for one week in a local newspaper with a 28-day consultation period, with a template provided by the MMO. They were also required to post a prominent notice near the site of works. The application was advertised in the Brighton Argus on 30 August 2024. A public notice was also placed in four locations at the site using the main noticeboard. In addition, the applicant also posted the notice on the Brighton Marina – Premier Marinas Facebook page. Public consultation was opened on 30 August 2024 and ended on 27 September 2024.

The MMO received a number of public representations for MLA/2024/00394 opposing the renewal of the licence on the basis that the disposal site is located within the Beachy Head West MCZ. The MMO requested that the applicant addressed these matters, and subsequently provided several documents on 26 November 2024.

The responses are now available on the public register (https://marinelicensing.marinemanagement.org.uk/mmofox5/fox/live/MMO_PUBLIC_REGISTER) on GOV.UK - search for the case using the marine licence application reference above.

MMOs Role

The MMO was established by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MCAA 2009) to make a contribution to sustainable development in the marine area and to promote clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.

The responsibilities of the MMO include the licensing of construction works, deposits and removals in English inshore and offshore waters and for Northern Ireland offshore waters by way of a marine licence. Inshore waters include any area which is submerged at mean high water spring (MHWS) tide. They also include the waters of every estuary, river or channel where the tide flows at MHWS tide. Waters in areas which are closed permanently or intermittently by a lock or other artificial means against the regular action of the tide are included, where seawater flows into or out from the area. To learn about the assessment process visit: The marine licence application timeline - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-marine-licence-application-timeline).

Please note the MMO does not guarantee a positive determination, and the decision is under review until the final determination is issued.

For full details of MMOs obligations as England’s marine regulator under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/23/contents), visit Marine licensing: Definitions - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/marine-licensing-definitions).