The government will “press ahead” with the HS2 rail link after winning a key legal battle in the Supreme Court.
Judges unanimously rejected a legal challenge by campaigners against the high-speed rail project, which they hoped would force further ministerial scrutiny of the environmental impact of the scheme.
The controversial project, which has come under fire from both political sides, would link London to Birmingham by 2026, with tracks to cities including Leeds and Manchester built in a second phase, to be completed by 2032-33.
A panel of seven judges ruled: "There is no reason to suppose that MPs will be unable to properly examine and debate the proposed project."
There was no need for the court to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), they added.
The legal challenge was taken to the highest court in the land by the HS2 Action Alliance (HS2AA), Heathrow Hub campaigners and local councils along the proposed route to link London, the Midlands and the North.
Transport minister Baroness Kramer has said the government’s handling of the project has been “fully vindicated”.
“We will now continue to press ahead with the delivery of HS2,” Kramer said. “The new north-south line will provide extra space for more trains and more passengers to travel on the network, delivering additional capacity where it is most needed.
“HS2 will also generate thousands of jobs across the UK and provide opportunities to boost skills.”
Objectors to HS2 said the scheme would cause an “unacceptable” level of environmental damage, loss of homes and disruption to many communities.
HS2AA campaign director Emma Crane said she was disappointed but the decision didn’t mean the “end of the road” for their fight.
She added the group would be making a complaint to the European Commission to say the UK government has not compiled with its European law obligations on the environment.