Court date set for High Speed Rail legal challenge

A legal challenge against the Government's decision to go ahead with the High Speed 2 project which will see a line built between London and the Midlands will be heard at the High Court this December.

It's one of five cases being brought against the Government about the plans to build the rail link which is forecast to cost £33 billion.

Those fighting the claims say the decision to press on with the project was made unlawfully, without proper assessment of the environmental impact or enough public consultation.

One of the cases is by fifteen local authorities, nine of which are councils from the Midlands.

• Warwick District Council

• South Northants District Council

• Wycombe District Council

• Lichfield District Council

• North Warwickshire Borough Council

• Warwickshire County Council

• Stratford-on-Avon District Council

• Leicestershire County Council

• Harborough District Council

• Coventry City Council

The action is being brought against the Government by a group called 51m, which includes the councils and various other groups opposed to the massive infrastructure project.

All the cases will be heard over a seven-day period starting from December 3rd.

The Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening will be required to explain any consultation errors to the High Court.

A Department for Transport spokeswomen said:

No decision has been made about the costs of the legal action to the councils involved.