Sussex Wildlife Trust launches claim against dumping of sediment in Beachy Head conservation zone

The charity says that sediment disposal should not be allowed in the area, which is a designated conservation zone, and argues that it would have a significant impact on the rare chalk reef and its wildlife.

The claim relates to a licence renewal granted by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in May 2025. This licence allows sediment dredged (excavated) from Brighton Marina to be disposed of at a site that sits within the Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) – two areas designated in order to protect nationally important habitats and species.

Premier Marinas, which owns and operates Brighton Marina, applied to renew their licence in July 2024, with Sussex Wildlife Trust raising concerns over the application in the following months.

The charity said that there was no up-to-date assessment on the condition of the Beachy Head MCZs and a lack of robust monitoring of the area, and urged caution from the MMO in its decision on the licence.

But in May 2025 the licence was granted, with the MMO stating it was of the opinion that the disposal operation would not adversely impact the protected features of the MCZs.

Sussex Wildlife Trust disputes this and says the dredged sediment will negatively impact the sensitive chalk reef and wildlife it helps support, which includes short-snouted seahorse and blue mussel beds.

While licences to dispose of sediment in the area have historically been granted, the charity says that this should no longer be the case now the area has been recognised as a designated MCZ.

In its application for a judicial review challenge, Sussex Wildlife Trusts argues the below grounds:

• The MMO was wrong to conclude that the proposed dredge and disposal operations would not fall within the scope of the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007, which would require an environmental impact assessment to take place.
• The MMO was wrong to conclude that the proposed dredging and disposal operations would be compliant with the South Marine Plan 2018, which require plans to demonstrate that potential adverse impacts on MCZs can be avoided or minimised.
• The MMO failed to take a precautionary and risk-based approach to the potential impacts of sediment disposal on the protected features of the MCZs.
• The MMO did not have sufficient evidence to conclude that the sediment disposal would not have a significant impact on the MCZs.

Henri Brockelbank, director of conservation at Sussex Wildlife Trust, said:

“Bold action is the only way to continue to fight for this protected area. By applying for judicial review, we are following our own values of being the strongest advocate for nature in Sussex. Inaction will see the continued dumping of 100,000 tonnes of dredged sediment in our MCZ every year for the next 10 years – this is not acceptable in a protected area and is a terrible precedent to set for the future management of all 91 MCZs around the English coast.”

Leigh Day solicitor Rowan Smith, who represents Sussex Wildlife Trust, said:

“Our client’s legal action seeks to rescue the Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone from further pollution. We are arguing on our client’s behalf that significant harm to this protected area resulting from the disposal could not be lawfully ruled out, because the Marine Management Organisation had failed to properly assess the impact it would have. Our client is rightly concerned about the steps that led to the new licence, and we hope the Court will grant permission for a hearing to fully scrutinise that decision-making process.”