A planning decision to block HS2 from upgrading a crucial farm lane in Wendover could push up its costs by “tens of millions” of pounds, it has said.
The response came as Buckinghamshire Council refused planning permission for an underground chamber and ditch, as part of HS2’s Wendover Green Tunnel project.
The council said the proposal to build an access track would harm the “sensitive and protected Chilterns National Landscape”, despite planning officers recommending it for approval.
Now, HS2 has said it will not be able to move forward with its construction plans for the 900 metre-long tunnel.
It had put in a planning application to upgrade Dobbins Lane, near the green tunnel site, after the Environment Agency requested a spring chamber be built to mitigate “severe environmental impacts” relating to groundwater flow.
HS2 had planned to upgrade the road to build and maintain the chamber; without it in place, it is not allowed to build the tunnel.
A spokesperson for HS2 said it was “disappointed” by the decision to reject the plans.
“As was made clear during the committee meeting, the cost to the taxpayer of this decision risks running into tens of millions of pounds as a result of knock-on delays to the construction of nearby structures,” they added.
“We are now considering our next steps.”
Buckinghamshire Council told Construction News that the spring chamber was required by the Environment Agency for HS2 to proceed, but said “the reason for refusal was stated as harm created by the proposed access track” to the Chilterns National Landscape.
“[They concluded] that this harm could reasonably be avoided or reduced,” the spokesperson said.
The Wendover green tunnel is one of four being constructed by HS2. The others are at Burton Green in Warwickshire and Chipping Warden and Greatworth in Northamptonshire. Between them, the four tunnels will span more than four miles.
EKFB, which is a joint venture between Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial and Bam Nuttall, is the main contractor for that section of HS2.
CN approached the Environment Agency, Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial and Bam Nuttall for comment.