A new marina is to be built within the existing port of Motril, in the southern Spanish province of Granada, replacing the Club Náutico and marina seca.
The new Marina Motril on Spain’s Costa Tropical is designed to accommodate 700 vessels, with 450 wet berths and 250 dry berths, across a 100,000 sqm site repurposed from former logistics space.
Chapman Taylor has been appointed as lead architect for the project. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2026, with completion targeted for spring 2028.
The project is being developed by Marina Motril SL, a joint venture between the current dry marina operator and Granada-based energy group Grupo Cuerva, which was awarded a 49-year development concession in December 2023.
Granada’s coastline currently offers 427 mooring points between Marina del Este (227) and Club Náutico de Motril (200). Marina Motril will more than double this capacity, representing the first major expansion since 1988.
Chapman Taylor’s masterplan combines port operations with public space, aiming to link the city centre to the waterfront and the wider Mediterranean. The design draws on Mediterranean and Nazarí architectural influences and includes a 15,000sqm commercial area with retail, food and beverage outlets and artisan shops, a zoco-inspired market with water features and native planting, and an underground car park with nearly 600 spaces.
Facilities will also include the Aula del Mar, a marine research centre in partnership with the University of Granada, a new nautical club with two pools, a gym, coworking and event spaces, and a dock for small sailing and water sports. A 21,000sqm varadero with two travelifts (110 and 450 tonnes) is planned, intended to be the largest yacht repair yard in the southern Mediterranean.
Marina Motril will be powered by renewable energy, forming part of the Green Motril initiative led by Cuerva to establish an on-site energy community. The development will repurpose underused land, integrate research and education on marine ecosystems, and avoid creating a new sea inlet to reduce ecological disruption.
The project is expected to generate over 150 direct jobs and support employment in tourism, hospitality, retail and marine services. Developers are considering a mix of financing options to meet the estimated cost of more than €30m. Final environmental approval from Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition is expected within the next year.
“We are proud to be working alongside Marina Motril and the Port Authority to deliver a bold and future-ready waterfront,” says José Carlos Díez, director of Chapman Taylor. “This project exemplifies how architecture can unite infrastructure, culture, and community in a single, coherent vision.”
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