A woman has lost her High Court challenge over proposals to create tunnels near Euston station as part of the controversial HS2 rail scheme.

Local resident Hero Granger-Taylor brought legal action against the Government and HS2 Ltd, arguing that the “three tunnels” plan in the approaches to the north London station could lead a 119-year-old wall close to her home to collapse on to the tunnels below or the existing railway line.

She said the plan is “inherently unsafe” and breaches her human rights.

But in a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Jay dismissed Ms Granger-Taylor’s claim.

In his judgment, he said that he had not been persuaded that the “three tunnels” design was “unattainable”.

The senior judge said: “I cannot conclude on all the evidence that the three tunnels design is so inherently flawed in the vicinity of the retaining wall that no engineering solution could be found to construct it safely.”

Mr Justice Jay noted that further work on the design is due to be carried out with “numerous levels of checking and review” and that work, assessments and reviews will be conducted “in respect of those features of the project of greatest concern” to Ms Granger-Taylor.

The conduct of the defendants in proceeding with the three tunnels scheme breaches her rights to family and private life and quiet enjoyment of property.

He added that Tim Mould QC, representing the Government and HS2 Ltd, had “accepted in terms that if at any stage during this process it should become apparent that the outbound tunnel under the retaining wall cannot be constructed safely, then the three tunnels design would require modification or abandonment”.

The senior judge said he had “no difficulty” in accepting this because “the defendants would not choose to act irresponsibly.”

He also concluded that, in his judgment, the tunnel design “strikes a fair balance” between Ms Granger-Taylor’s private interests and “the wider public interest in implementing an important infrastructure project in line with primary legislation”.

In a statement after the ruling, Ms Granger-Taylor said she was still convinced that “flaws” in the tunnels plan are “so great it can never be made safe”.

At a remote hearing last month, the court was told that the proposals could cause a “catastrophic collapse” that would endanger rail travellers and residents living nearby.

In written arguments, Ms Granger-Taylor’s barrister Christopher Jacobs said that the “three tunnels scheme is inherently unsafe and could lead to the catastrophic collapse of an unstable retaining wall immediately under which tunnels are to be excavated”.

Mr Jacobs argued that the plans will cause “considerable settlement and damage to her home”.

He also said that “the conduct of the defendants in proceeding with the three tunnels scheme breaches her rights to family and private life and quiet enjoyment of property” under the European Convention on Human Rights and is therefore “unlawful”.

A report by Colin Elliff, a civil engineering expert, obtained on behalf of Ms Granger-Taylor says that “in the worst case” a collapse “could place rail travellers and residents at risk”.

We are pleased that this matter has now concluded and we can move forward with the further detailed design for this section of the railway

Documents prepared for the court by lawyers representing HS2 Ltd and the Government said that the court is being “asked to make a direct finding that, contrary to the assessments which have been undertaken to date and the processes which are yet to come, the three-tunnels design is not capable of safe implementation”.

They said that is not a “proper matter” for the court to decide, adding: “Nor is it a conclusion that is properly open to the court on the evidence before it.”

In her statement, Ms Granger-Taylor said: “I remain convinced that the flaws in HS2 Ltd’s ‘three tunnels’ design are so great it can never be made safe.

“Having lived in my house all my life (66 years), I am fully aware of its structural frailty, as well as that of the 120-year-old railway retaining wall only 17m away.

“I continue to be dismayed that HS2 Ltd and their contractors can show so little regard for the stability of mine and my neighbours’ houses, and of the retaining wall, that our lives may be at risk.”

An HS2 spokesman said: “At Euston, we are currently working through a rigorous design and independent checking process, including geological and structural testing, before we begin construction of the Euston approach tunnels.

“We are confident that our work, in whatever form it ultimately takes, will be delivered safely.

“We are pleased that this matter has now concluded and we can move forward with the further detailed design for this section of the railway.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We welcome the outcome of the Judicial Review, which ruled the Euston tunnels design does not pose a risk to safety.

“We are clear that any construction of HS2 infrastructure, including around Euston’s surrounding area, must be safe, and HS2 Ltd and its contractors will continue to carry out works with this primary consideration in mind.”