#publisher alternate Skip to main content The Guardian - Back to home Support The Guardian Available for everyone, funded by readers Contribute Subscribe Contribute Search jobs Sign in [ ] My account * Comments & replies * Public profile * Account details * Emails & marketing ______________________________________________________________ * Membership * Contributions * Subscriptions ______________________________________________________________ * Sign out Search [ ] * switch to the International edition * switch to the UK edition * switch to the US edition * switch to the Australia edition current edition: International edition * News * Opinion * Sport * Culture * Lifestyle [ ] Show More * (BUTTON) News + World news + UK news + Environment + Science + Cities + Global development + Football + Tech + Business + Obituaries * (BUTTON) Opinion + The Guardian view + Columnists + Cartoons + Opinion videos + Letters * (BUTTON) Sport + Football + Cricket + Rugby union + Tennis + Cycling + F1 + Golf + US sports * (BUTTON) Culture + Books + Music + TV & radio + Art & design + Film + Games + Classical + Stage * (BUTTON) Lifestyle + Fashion + Food + Recipes + Love & sex + Health & fitness + Home & garden + Women + Men + Family + Travel + Money ____________________ What term do you want to search? (BUTTON) Search with google * Make a contribution * Subscribe * (BUTTON) International edition + switch to the UK edition + switch to the US edition + switch to the Australia edition * Search jobs * Dating * Holidays * Digital Archive * Discount Codes * The Guardian app * Video * Podcasts * Pictures * Newsletters * Today's paper * Inside the Guardian * The Observer * Guardian Weekly * Crosswords * Facebook * Twitter * Search jobs * Dating * Holidays * Digital Archive * Discount Codes * UK * UK politics * Education * Media * Society * Law * Scotland * Wales * Northern Ireland (BUTTON) More HS2 This article is more than 5 years old HS2: supreme court rejects appeal by opponents of high-speed rail link This article is more than 5 years old Judges unanimously dismiss claims by three campaign groups that decision-making process is unlawful Gwyn Topham, transport correspondent @GwynTopham Wed 22 Jan 2014 10.20 GMT First published on Wed 22 Jan 2014 10.20 GMT * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share via Email Birmingham and Fazeley viaduct [ ] The Birmingham and Fazeley viaduct, part of the proposed route for the HS2 high-speed rail scheme. Photograph: HS2/PA The supreme court has rejected the final outstanding appeals by objectors to the HS2 high-speed rail link, who had claimed the decision-making process was unlawful. The appeals, brought by three campaign groups, came on two grounds after judges last year struck down seven areas of challenge to the government's handling of the £42.6bn scheme. Judges unanimously dismissed claims that the government was failing to comply with the strategic environmental assessment directive, and that the hybrid bill before parliament would breach the environmental impact assessment. The appeal was brought by the HS2 Action Alliance (HS2AA), local authorities and Heathrow Hub Ltd, a private grouping hoping to build an HS2 station near the airport. Responding to the ruling, the transport minister Lady 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. "We will now continue to press ahead with the delivery of HS2. The new north-south line will provide extra space for more trains and more passengers to travel on the network, delivering additional capacity where it is most needed. HS2 will also generate thousands of jobs across the UK and provide opportunities to boost skills." The supreme court's verdict marks the end of the judicial reviews into HS2, two years after opponents first launched legal action. Nine out of 10 areas of challenge were dismissed by the high court last March, although the campaigners' one victory did force the government into rerunning a consultation on compensation arrangements for property owners affected by building HS2. Of these cases, seven were taken to appeal and again went in favour of the government in July 2013. Only two of these were taken to the supreme court, which further reaffirmed the legality of the government's decision-making on HS2. The court refused applications for matters to be referred to the European court. However, campaigners said they would continue to pursue avenues in Europe. HS2AA said it considered that the supreme court's refusal to refer the matter to the European court breached its obligations under the EU treaty. It said it would bring complaints to Europe's compliance committee and the European commission. Hilary Wharf of HS2AA said: "We will continue to press the government to meet its environmental obligations. The government should be safeguarding our environment for future generations and the simple fact is HS2 is an unnecessary and hugely damaging project environmentally." A Department for Transport spokesman responded: "It can be an expensive mistake to resort to legal challenge. We want to work with people and have a constructive dialogue, and we hope that people will recognise this and respond. We hope that the judgment in this case will reassure everyone with an interest in HS2 that the department is acting in a lawful manner, thereby avoiding the need for further costly litigation." While the legal road now appears clear for the government, at least for the first phase between London and Birmingham of the high-speed network, one of its key environmental supporters has indicated it will withdraw its backing. The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, which has to date given conditional support, said it was "increasingly hard to see HS2 as any sort of green project". Its chief executive, Shaun Spiers, said the group had reconsidered as the government was set to expand airports and launch a major roadbuilding programme. Writing on his blog, he said: "It seems we are to have HS2 and new roads and runways. That was never part of the deal. It is not clear what this does for the business case for HS2 – there are only so many passengers – but it blows a hole in the environmental case." Topics * HS2 * Rail transport * Transport * UK supreme court * Transport policy * news * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share via Email * Share on LinkedIn * Share on Pinterest * Share on WhatsApp * Share on Messenger * Reuse this content View all comments > (BUTTON) Order by * (BUTTON) newest * (BUTTON) oldest * (BUTTON) recommendations (BUTTON) Show 25 * (BUTTON) 25 * (BUTTON) 50 * (BUTTON) 100 * (BUTTON) All (BUTTON) Threads * (BUTTON) collapsed * (BUTTON) expanded * (BUTTON) unthreaded Loading comments… Trouble loading? (BUTTON) View more comments more on this story * Rail travellers 'to face queues for trains without HS2' Project head warns that overcrowding will get much worse and commuters will not be able to board trains unless link is built Published: 3 Feb 2014 Rail travellers 'to face queues for trains without HS2' * HS2 appoints new chief executive on six times his predecessor's salary Simon Kirby of Network Rail given task of driving down cost of high-speed project amid concerns over rising budget Published: 17 Jan 2014 HS2 appoints new chief executive on six times his predecessor's salary * HS2 rail scheme essential, say MPs Transport committee says government should play down cost of project and look into bringing forward second phase Published: 13 Dec 2013 HS2 rail scheme essential, say MPs * Transport secretary blocks HS2 report Opponents of high-speed rail network accuse Patrick McLoughlin after he vetoes publication of November 2011 review Published: 30 Jan 2014 Transport secretary blocks HS2 report * + Ed Balls: HS2 supporters not yet won argument that cost is worthwhile Published: 26 Jan 2014 Ed Balls: HS2 supporters not yet won argument that cost is worthwhile + HS2 planning: 'How on earth is the public meant to make sense of this?' Published: 29 Nov 2013 HS2 planning: 'How on earth is the public meant to make sense of this?' + HS2 consultants: rail link will be even better than we thought Published: 26 Nov 2013 HS2 consultants: rail link will be even better than we thought + Boris Johnson's father calls for 'popular uprising' against HS2 Published: 24 Jan 2014 Boris Johnson's father calls for 'popular uprising' against HS2 (BUTTON) More more on this story Most popular * UK * UK politics * Education * Media * Society * Law * Scotland * Wales * Northern Ireland * News * Opinion * Sport * Culture * Lifestyle IFRAME: /email/form/footer/today-uk + Contact us + Complaints & corrections + SecureDrop + Work for us + Privacy policy + Cookie policy + Terms & conditions + Help + All topics + All writers + Digital newspaper archive + Facebook + Twitter + Advertise with us + Search UK jobs + Dating + Discount Codes Support The Guardian Available for everyone, funded by readers Contribute Subscribe Back to top © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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