Transport Secretary to look again at decision to approve Stonehenge Tunnel Scheme

Grant Shapps is to examine how he came to the decision to approve the controversial Stonehenge Tunnel Scheme.

The development consent order for the controversial £1.7 bn Highways England scheme was approved in November against the advice of Planning Inspectorate officers who said it would cause "permanent, irreversible harm" to the World Heritage Site.

Campaigners launched a judicial review and last month the High Court ruled Mr Shapps decision was "unlawful" on two grounds.

A judge found the decision-making process included no evidence of the impact on each individual asset at the historic site.

The court also found that Mr Shapps did not properly consider alternative schemes as the law requires him to.

A statement published on the Planning Inspectorate website says the Transport Secretary must now 're-determine' the application for development consent.

Last week Highways England announced it was continuing with progressing construction contractions however preparatory work, including archaeological studies, due to begin this summer, have been postponed.

Plans to close a 5 mile stretch of the A360 in connection with the project have also been delayed.

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