the deep-water access it offers has made the site desirable for manufacturers of 'superyachts' and in 2012 princess yachts acquired the freehold to 20 acres at the southern end, with a view to building a construction facility. the company asserts that this development will "continue the boat building tradition within the dockyard" and "add drama to the site with yachts being moved around the quayside, launched on no. 3 slip, tested in no. 2 slip and moored alongside the quay wall". the site includes within it several listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments, most notably the grade i listed east ropery, together with several other 18th-century buildings and structures associated with rope-making in the yard, the covered slip (no. 1 slip) and the 'king's hill gazebo', built to commemorate a visit by king george iii.