Capacity Needed

The Relevant Authorities group would proceed to consider what increase in capacity would be appropriate for the Solent. Included in the consideration would be the needs of the local population, likely to increase by 40,000 households as result of government decisions on housing. If 2% of these people require leisure facilities on the water, this alone would mean provision of 800 additional mooring/boat parking/ launching facilities. Pressure would be brought to bear by BMF (the boatbuilding industry) for much larger increases in facilities, and RYA would argue that growth in maritime leisure could be 3-4% per annum compound. Taking a view on all these factors, the Relevant Authorities might conclude that demand could grow by 2-4% per annum. However, looking at available facilities, they conclude that

- Hamble cannot increase capacity for safety and road traffic reasons

- Only limited increase above Fawley is possible for marine traffic management reasons

- Although there has been a block on increased capacity at Chichester, carefully planned limited additional capacity might be possible.

- Langstone Harbour has potential, but is difficult to use because of narrow channels a long way from the shore

- Portsmouth Harbour could sustain limited increase, but care needs to be take regarding traffic management at the entrance

- Beaulieu is at or near capacity without destroying the ambience

- Lymington will do well to maintain existing capacity

- Yarmouth has only limited potential for growth

- Cowes could increase capacity, but would need approval for a major project at the harbour entrance

- Wootton, Ryde and Bembridge have very limited scope for further expansion

They could conclude that, even allowing for some expansion, favouring sites that used non-designated sites, a maximum growth of 5% is possible within existing resources.