Proposed Weymouth Peninsula Harbour Revision Order

Overview

HARBOURS ACT 1964 (AS AMENDED)

Proposed Weymouth Peninsula Harbour Revision Order

Notice of application for a Harbour Revision Order

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Dorset Council (“the applicant”) has applied to the Marine Management Organisation (“the MMO”) for a Harbour Revision order under section 14 of the Harbours Act 1964.

The proposed order would disapply the Open Port Duty to area shaded red on the Peninsula Plan deposited with the order. In addition, it would restrict the Open Port Duty, to vessels over 24 metres in length. The harbour will still be able to exercise its discretion to accept vessels over 24 metres in length. The proposed order will enable the applicant to develop the peninsula in line with the Harbour Business Plan and the Government funding commitments, including upgrading and repairing harbour walls to ensure the infrastructure can meet modern standards, remains safe and supports both commercial and leisure activities. The modification of the Open Port Duty through the proposed order is a key step in ensuring that the Government funding commitments can be delivered whilst securing the long-term financial sustainability of Weymouth Harbour. The extent of the harbour premises is not altered by the proposed order. To facilitate the above, article 3 of the proposed order amends the legislation set out in this article.

The proposed order would not authorise the construction or alteration of a project or confer development consent. Accordingly, Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (as amended) which is codified by Council Directive 2011/92/EU (as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU) does not apply to the proposals and no environmental statement has been supplied.

A copy of the draft order and accompanying documents are deposited at the offices of the applicant at: Weymouth Harbour Office, 13 Custom House Quay, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8BG. These may be inspected at all reasonable hours until the expiry of the forty-two day period referred to below.

The draft order and accompanying documents are also available for inspection at the offices of the MMO in Newcastle Upon Tyne by appointment at the email address below or may be viewed on the MMO’s website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/harbour-orders-public-register

Any person desiring to make an objection or representation concerning the application should write to the Harbour Orders Team, Marine Management Organisation, Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE4 7YH or email to harbourorders@marinemanagement.org.uk. An objection or representation should:

1. be received before the expiry of a period of 42 days starting with the date at the foot of this notice;
2. be made in writing quoting reference HRO/2025/00001;
3. state the grounds of the objection or representation;
4. indicate who is making the objection or representation; and
5. give an address to which correspondence relating to the objection or representation may be sent.

The MMO will pass to the applicant a copy of any objections and other representations received.

If an objection is duly made and not withdrawn then the MMO may cause an inquiry to be held. Any objections duly made and not withdrawn and any representations duly made will be considered before the MMO decides whether or not to make the order.

Dated: 20 June 2025

Ashfords LLP

Solicitors for Dorset Council