Southern Water’s Peacehaven water scheme has moved a step nearer to getting the go-ahead after an application for a judicial review into the scheme by campaigners was rejected last week by the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in London.

Since it was first announced in 1997, the scheme has been plagued by planning problems – it failed to get past public inquiries in 1999 and 2006. The wastewater and sludge recycling scheme in Brighton and Hove, which resurfaced last year, was originally valued at £160 million, but the deal is now worth almost double that. Contractor Costain has been appointed by Southern Water to the project.

The scheme would treat the 95 million litres of wastewater generated every day by the people Peacehaven, Telscombe Cliffs, Saltdean, Ovingdean, Rottingdean, Woodingdean as well as Brighton and Hove would be fully treated for the first time in line with European quality standards.

In addition to the £300 million wastewater treatment works and sludge recycling centre the company wants to build on land at Lower Hoddern Farm in Peacehaven, the work includes the construction of a 2.5 km-long sea outfall at Friars’ Bay and  an 11 km underground sewer between Black Rock and Peacehaven to transfer wastewater to the new works, with a further pumping station at Portobello to transfer water from surrounding towns.Two underground pumping stations also be built.

Following the refusal for a judicial review, Campaign group Peacehaven Residents Opposed to Urban Development have now requested an oral hearing with the court. This is unlikely to happen before May and if the court refuses to allow the hearing, the campaigners will then have to apply to the Court of Appeal to review the case.

Southern Water say the need for the scheme and improved wastewater treatment is urgent because the area is the only one in the country, and among one of the last in Europe, not to meet environmental quality standards.