New Development, Brighton Marina

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 13 Nov 2015

About 853 apartments are currently being developed on the old West Quay and this is just the start. The owners were given planning permission as far back as 2006 but only started in 2013 by which time it was discovered that the company had used a loophole to bypass the original 1968 Brighton Marina Act that forbade any building above the height of the cliffs. The loophole required the council to agree in writing and was intended for structures such as lighting and other minor non-residential items. The Council did agree and what surprised most was that it was the Green administration who passed it. The plans include a forty storey skyscraper to be built in the outer harbour and also in the long term will see the demolition of the current ASDA store which will be rebuilt with an underground car park thus freeing up more development space, as well as the demolition of the current petrol station and McDonald's. Other items include bridges to link breakwaters and the West Quay together. It is by no means a popular development and whilst Brighton certainly needs housing those available in the Marina will not be affordable to many.

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