The Government today survived a High Court attempt to halt its HS2 high-speed rail scheme.
Mr Justice Ouseley rejected claims by protesters that the £33 billion plans were legally flawed.
The scheme hit a setback when the judge ruled that the consultation process for compensating those affected “was so unfair as to be unlawful”.
But the Government hailed the court’s decision on the points it won as a “landmark victory” and said the loss on the compensation aspect would “not affect the HS2 construction timetable in any way”.
Rail Minister Simon Burns said: “This is a major landmark victory for HS2 and the future of Britain. The judge has categorically given the green light for the Government to press ahead without delay in building a high-speed railway from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.”
Objectors are expected to appeal the judgment, which could still delay the plans. The first phase of HS2 is a high-speed rail line with 225mph trains through Tory heartlands from London to Birmingham. The project is designed to cut journey times, ease overcrowding and boost regional business.
Extensions would run to Leeds and Manchester first, then possibly to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Residents’ groups and councils in the 51M alliance are bitterly opposed but supporters have pointed to the slashing of journey times between the UK’s two biggest cities.
Objectors said the Government failed to undertake a strategic environmental assessment of the whole project before giving the go-ahead, and claimed there was no proper consultation which “allows informed responses on the true merits and demerits”.
The judge rejected these arguments but backed objections to the compensation scheme. Campaigners claimed a “huge victory”. Richard Houghton, of the HS2 Action Alliance, said more than 300,000 households were blighted and compensation could run into billions. Hilary Wharf, director of the alliance, said: “The Government must now... rethink its approach to compensation.”
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