Campaigners lost their latest legal challenge yesterday over the government’s high-speed rail project HS2.

The challenge was to the legality of directions introduced by the Transport Secretary for the London-Birmingham section of the scheme.

The HS2 Action Alliance (HS2AA) and Hillingdon Council in west London argued that the directions were fatally flawed and should be quashed.

But Justice Lindblom, sitting at London’s High Court, dismissed all grounds of the claim.

David Elvin QC, appearing for HS2AA and Hillingdon, said the Transport Secretary had issued “safeguarding directions” to protect land wanted for the project until development consent was obtained from Parliament.

The aim of the directions was to keep a close watch on local planning applications and stop any construction work that could could interfere with the project.

But the consequences were a “blight” for local people and businesses.

Mr Elvin argued that there had been an unlawful failure to undertake a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and “land extending beyond the route of the proposed line” had been included in the scope of the directions without any assessment of alternative options.

But Mr Justice Lindblom dismissed the challenge. He said: “This is not the first claim for judicial review in which the government’s promotion of HS2 has been challenged. And it may not be the last.”

The judge said on any view the project would have a significant impact on the environment.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said: “The High Court has once again dismissed a judicial review in respect of HS2.

“I invite interested groups to work with us through the parliamentary process on making HS2 the very best it can be, and not to waste money on costly and fruitless court cases.”