Brighton’s seafront is set for a landmark change following the formal approval of a 25-year lease to bring a big wheel back to Madeira Drive. The decision marks a major step in the long-term regeneration of the city’s eastern seafront, with a target opening date set for summer 2027.
Brighton & Hove City Council’s cabinet approved the lease at a meeting on Thursday 17 September 2026. The new attraction will be located at Dalton’s Bastion, the same site occupied by the previous Brighton Wheel between 2011 and 2016.
The project is being led by Madeira Leisure Limited, the family-run business behind the Brighton Zip. Owners Jayne and Jeffrey Sanders intend for the new wheel to operate alongside the existing zipwire attraction. Under the terms of the agreement, the operator will take on all commercial risk, while the council is set to receive a guaranteed commercial rent.
A new era for the eastern seafront
The return of a wheel to Dalton’s Bastion has been made possible by the end of a previous exclusivity agreement. The original wheel was required to close in 2016 because of a clause that protected the i360 observation tower from nearby competition. With that restriction no longer in effect, the council has moved to secure a long-term fixture for the area.
According to official council updates, the 25-year lease was agreed during the cabinet meeting at Hove Town Hall.
The cabinet moved forward with the vision, viewing it as a cornerstone for the ongoing revival of the Madeira Drive area. While the lease has been agreed, the project remains subject to formal planning permission and other statutory consents before construction can begin.
