A 200-year lease extension has been agreed for a crisis-hit marina.
Western Marinas initially took over operation of Watchet Marina located in Somerset, UK, in September 2024, taking on the assets that were previously under the management of The Marine & Property Group.
It follows three controversy-strewn years with the marina, which was previously run by Switzerland-based Christopher Odling-Smee’s Marine and Property Group (MPG) which fell into administration in September 2023.
Western Marinas has already started work on the refurbishment and is said to have made ‘significant strides’.
Key priorities have been addressed following a comprehensive health and safety audit including installation of new fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.
Reinstated
In addition, the gas supply has been reinstated, a new fuel tank installed, and a full refit of pontoon electrical and water supplies is scheduled to begin.
Western Marinas has also started a dredging campaign which has so far removed around 26,000 cubic metres of sediment.
The harbour’s three central pontoons are now at or below their target depth, and work is progressing to repair the marina gate.
Innovation, the marina’s water injection dredger, has been lifted out for her MECAL coding inspection and refit work.
Once work is complete, a further 7,000 cubic metres of sediment will be cleared before the 2025 season begins.
Sub-let
Somerset Council is the statutory harbour authority and owns the freehold to Watchet Marina which was leased to Watchet Harbour Marina (WHM) Ltd in 2001.
In 2021 WHM Ltd sub-let the lease to The Marine and Property Group Ltd which was in the process of buying the lease from WHM Ltd in a private transaction.
Western Marinas also took over two MPG marinas in Wales in 2024. The company has acquired Cardiff Marina and the management contract for Aberystwyth Marina.
Western Marinas is a new company that has been set up by a new management team and their funders. The company also operates Cardiff Marine Village and its dredging division, WM Dredging.
The company has completed a full electrical refit in Cardiff and has a new fuel system set to launch in Aberystwyth together with other upgrades.
