A planned £9 million state-of-the-art training base for Britain’s Olympic sailing squad on Portland has been officially abandoned.
The British Sailing Team, which has long been based at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), unveiled proposals in 2023 for a new Performance and Innovation Centre. The plans received full planning permission last year and were expected to build on the legacy of the London 2012 Olympics, when the Dorset coast successfully hosted the sailing events.
The new centre was intended to bring together sailors, coaches, sports scientists, and technical staff under one roof, creating a central hub designed to improve collaboration and drive innovation. It was originally slated for completion in 2025 — but construction work never started.
It has now emerged that rising construction costs have forced the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), which operates the British Sailing Team, to abandon the project altogether. Instead, the organisation will invest in upgrading its existing facilities at Portland Marina and continue using the WPNSA as its operational base.
An RYA spokesperson said:
“Last year, the RYA received planning permission for a new Training and Innovation Centre on Portland. Since then, rising construction costs have prompted us to re-evaluate how best to invest, and after careful consideration, we are excited to confirm that the RYA will focus on upgrading and enhancing our existing facilities — ensuring Weymouth and Portland remain at the heart of our high-performance operations.”
The proposed centre would have replaced several units currently leased by the team at Portland Marina, which will now undergo major redevelopment. The RYA confirmed that, with the support of Sport England and UK Sport, work will begin in December on upgrading the team’s Technical and Human Science units, described as “the cornerstone” of British Sailing’s success for more than a decade.
The association added:
“This investment reaffirms our commitment to Weymouth and Portland as the long-term home of British Sailing. By strengthening and modernising our current facilities, we are building on a proud legacy while creating a more sustainable, future-ready base for performance and athlete development.”
The British Sailing Team remains the most successful nation in Olympic sailing history, with 64 medals — including 31 golds. At the recent Paris 2024 Games, the team continued its strong record with a gold for Ellie Aldridge in the new kite discipline and a bronze for Emma Wilson in windsurfing.
