Campaigners opposed to the construction of a road tunnel near Stonehenge have achieved a significant victory in their ongoing battle. The Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site (SSWHS) group, which has been fighting against the proposed £2bn two-mile tunnel on the A303, has been granted permission to appeal against the result of a judicial review that largely dismissed their claims.
The decision, which was announced after Mr Justice Holgate dismissed most parts of SSWHS’s case back in February, has been welcomed by John Adams, the chair of the Stonehenge Alliance. Adams highlighted the importance of thoroughly scrutinizing the government’s decision, emphasizing the potential damage the road scheme could inflict on the Stonehenge World Heritage Site.
The recent development has been met with encouragement by Leigh Day solicitor Rowan Smith, who stressed the scale of public interest in ensuring the legality of the decision about the future of Stonehenge.
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However, National Highways project director David Bullock expressed disappointment at the decision, noting that it will lead to further delays in the project. The ongoing legal process is expected to prolong the delay in the planned preparatory work on Salisbury Plain and the subsequent commencement of the tunnel construction.
The history of the tunnel scheme has been marked by legal challenges and controversies, with a development consent order (DCO) for the project granted by the transport secretary last July. Concerns about the environmental impact on the Unesco World Heritage Site resulted in the quashing of a previous DCO granted for the project in July 2021.
Despite persistent opposition and legal setbacks, Highways England remains committed to the project, emphasizing its potential to reduce traffic and improve journey times along the A303 route.