U.K. High Court rules compensation plan on HS2 as legally flawed

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

Canada: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

U.K. High Court has ruled the Government’s HS2 high-speed rail scheme as legally flawed on the grounds of having consultation process for providing compensation to the affectees by the multibillion-pound project “was so unfair as to be unlawful”.

The court decision favors the High Speed 2 Action Alliance (HS2AA). Five judicial reviews were brought by four protest groups, including 18 councils, campaign group HS2AA, which represents more than 70 affiliated groups and residents’ associations, and a golf club. However, this was the only case to succeed.

They had claimed and indicated the failures in the consultation process and assessment of the high-speed link’s environmental impact.

However, Rail minister Simon Burns has told the government has won nine out of 10 points being challenged; effectively giving the “green light” to the project; which is “a major landmark victory” for the project.

Mr. Burns has confirmed the government will not appeal over the compensation ruling. Instead, the Department will look for another property consultation “picking up the points” raised by the judge on Friday. Mr. Justice Ouseley – the ruling at London’s High Court, is now hearing submissions from lawyers on the appropriate remedy.

The department is of the view that re-running of the consultation “will not affect the HS2 construction timetable in any way”. According to the schedule, HS2’s first phase to travel through Tory heartlands -linking London and Birmingham, aims to be running by 2025.

The main intention for the project is to shorten travelling times, ease overcrowding and to lift regional business.

Article viewed on Oye! Times at www.oyetimes.com.