Appeals against the High Speed 2 rail project have been unanimously dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Last summer the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Government on seven areas of challenge. But the Court granted the appellants permission to appeal to the Supreme Court on two grounds.

The first was the claim that Government had failed to comply with the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive. A second claim was that the Hybrid Bill will breach the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.

The Supreme Court hearing was heard by seven judges and ran for two days last October.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: "We welcome that the Supreme Court has unanimously rejected the appeal, which addressed technical issues that had no bearing on the need for a new north-south railway. The Government's handling of the project has been fully vindicated by the highest court in the land."

HS2 Action Alliance, which brought the first appeal, vowed to fight on. Director Hilary Wharf said: "We will continue to press Government to meet its environmental obligations."

Law firm Pinsent Masons said the end of the judicial review challenge is one more hurdle crossed for the project. But the firm's transport partner Patrick Twist added: "The plan to get Royal Assent for the Hybrid Bill before the election looks more ambitious with every day that passes.

"The next crucial event will be the second reading of the Hybrid Bill, which will not now take place until the end of April at the very earliest."

(Photo: HS2)

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