Lichfield Council joins challenge to HS2 project

Legal challenges to the £33 billion high-speed rail project, HS2 will be heard before the end of the year, it emerged today.

Lichfield District Council is among 15 launching a judicial review against the Government's decision to press ahead with it.

The councils' case against HS2 will be among five challenges to be heard together at the High Court of Justice from December 3. The hearing is expected to last seven days.

Opponents of the scheme hope to persuade judges there has been insufficient consultation, the business case for the rail line is flawed and the plans breach environmental legislation.

It comes after fresh plans for a major junction of the HS2 line at Fradley near the city were revealed earlier this month.

District and county council chiefs say the line would bring no business benefits to and rip up swathes of countryside near Lichfield.