A HIGH COURT judge is expected to rule today whether the government must respond to the criticism of groups opposing HS2, who took their arguments to court in December. Their case included the fact that several hundred responses to the HS2 Phase 1 consultation were disregarded.

The objectors include a consortium of local authorities on the proposed route of Phase 1, between London and Birmingham, and also the golf club at Aylesbury.

Although the ruling has yet to be published, the government has recently announced that it is set to promote a Paving Bill this spring, which would release funding for some preliminary work on Phase 1.

This Phase is currently planned to open in 2026, with spurs north of Lichfield to Manchester and Leeds set to follow in 2033. A third phase onwards to Scotland is now also being investigated.