The Supreme Court will hear arguments from the HS2 Action Alliance (HS2AA) and local authorities as it assess the scheme.

This comes after an unsuccessful bid to force a closer look into the program. HS2AA provided seven grounds of appeal and focused on the first phase of HS2 - which will run between London and Birmingham with construction due to start in 2017.

While HS2AA was unsuccessful in its original bid, it split the three-judges overseeing the case, with Lord Justice Sullivan favouring the need for a strategic environmental assessment (SEA). The other two judges - Lord Dyson and Lord Justice Richards - supported the Department for Transport's stance against an SEA.

HS2 has been in the news a lot, with controversy over its benefits and growing costs. The recent announcement also comes as HS2 changes chairman, with Sir David Higgins to take over.

Mr Higgins said: "To date, everyone has focused on speed. To me, it has never been about speed. It's about capacity - the bottom of the West Coast Main Line is full."

The objectors were originally allowed to take their challenge to the Supreme Court due to high public importance - as well as permission to appeal an Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.