Coalition vows consultation court loss won't stop HS2

The Department for Transport suffered a setback when the court ruled the ministry's consultation process for compensating people affected by the project "was so unfair as to be unlawful."

But the government immediately announced that "a re-run property compensation consultation will not affect the HS2 construction timetable in any way."

The decision on compensation by Mr Justice Ouseley was a victory for the High Speed 2 Action Alliance (HS2AA), which consists of more than 70 affiliated action groups and residents' associations.

Richard Stein from the human rights team at HS2AA legal representatives Leigh Day said: "We are delighted by this result. This was never a Nimby argument.

"Many thousands of people living along the route will not be able to sell their homes for some 15 years because their homes are blighted. They should not have to bear the burden for this national project."

The HS2AA case was one of five separate legal challenges brought in an attempt to block the controversial scheme in its current form. It was the only one to succeed.

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."

But the legal battle is not yet over and will now shift to the Court of Appeal.