An independent review commissioned by the transport select committee has queried the business case behind the Government’s high-speed rail (HS2) proposals.

The review, which was carried out by consultant, Oxera, questioned the economic benefits of the plans to create a high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham by 2026, with the possibility of further tracks to Leeds and Manchester. It concluded there were ‘potential inconsistencies’ between the assessment of strategic alternatives and the high-speed options and queried the environmental benefits, which the Government has said HS2 would provide The committee is currently holding an inquiry into the controversial scheme, which has attracted opposition from several local authorities.

‘We owe it to the country to consider whether this is value for money and if it will deliver what the Government expects it to,’ said committee chairman, Louise Ellman.

Leicestershire CC has now joined the 51m alliance, which now includes a total of 14 local authorities, against the business case and benefits of the HS2 project.

‘HS2 will cost £33bn and upgrading the Midland Mainline would cost far less,’ said Leicestershire CC leader, Cllr David Parsons.‘We need to press the Government for more information.’

Chair of the 51m alliance, Buckinghamshire CC leader, Cllr Martin Tett, added: ‘I hope the Government now recognises the groundswell of serious challenge to the enormous cost of HS2 at a time of national austerity, and the evidence that this project will harm, rather than help, many of the regions through which it would pass.’

But the director of the Campaign for High Speed Rail, David Begg, said: ‘The closer people look at this issue, the more they will see the great benefits high-speed rail will have on the country as a whole.’