This is the direct result of the unignorable pressure generated through our campaign earlier this year. With more than 6,000 of you calling for the Marina to stop disposing in the MCZ, they were forced to consider somewhere else.
The Marina has now submitted a new application to use an alternative disposal site just off Newhaven. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will need to decide whether to approve it.
Dredged material can only be disposed of in designated disposal areas, so making use of the existing disposal site at Newhaven – rather than creating a new one further out to sea – is likely to be quicker in terms of getting a licence in place.
Map showing existing disposal sites at Rottingdean and Newhaven – taken from MMO Explore Marine Plans online map. Available to view online (opens in new window)
From an ecological perspective, the Newhaven site sits outside of the MCZ, which is the fundamental reason we called for disposal at Rottingdean to be stopped. However, the site is still relatively near to shore and sits adjacent to the MCZ. It also already accepts an enormous amount of dredged material from Newhaven Port, whose current licence (November 2025 – November 2028) allows them to dispose of up to 3,810,000 wet tonnes annually.
Brighton Marina is arguing that the amount of sediment they would be disposing of there is a mere fraction of Newhaven Port’s, but it does mean adding additional material to an already highly loaded site. Its viability as a long-term solution is questionable but our primary concern is whether and how it will impact the MCZ.
The Marina’s new licence application is currently with the MMO and a public consultation is imminent, although timeframes are currently unknown. We do know that Brighton Marina commissioned a report to model how the sediment moves once it has been disposed of at the Newhaven site. This report will be submitted as part of their licence application and we will be scrutinising the details when it becomes available.
We will provide a further update once the licence is open to public consultation, including information on how to have your say.
It’s also worth noting that the Marina hasn’t withdrawn their recent application to continue using the Rottingdean site. It’s currently on hold and will likely remain so until the Newhaven application is determined – but even if they are approved to use the Newhaven site, we’re concerned that the Marina wants to keep using their suction-cut dredger, which is the specialist machinery that allows them to dispose of sediment using the pipe that feeds out of the wall directly into the MCZ. Any disposal of dredged material into a protected area is a red line for Sussex Wildlife Trust, and we will actively oppose any application for the Marina’s continued use of this site.
If you would like to read around the topic, all the licence documentation can be found on the MMO licencing public register.
Current Newhaven Port licence: MLA/2025/00091 / L/2025/00224/1
Current Brighton Marina application for Rottingdean (on hold): MLA/2026/00065
EIA screening for Brighton Marina for Newhaven application: EIA/2026/00041
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