[michaelt]

I think the point of that article is more abstract than just the bat shed.

The issue is that, in this instance, government-in-the-form-of-HS2-Ltd has to negotiate an agreement between government-in-the-form-of-endangered-species-protection; government-in-the-form-of-local-planning-officers and government-in-the-form-of-the-treasury.

And the bat shed is just one example of something that happened over and over along the route.

In a less enlightened country, once the glorious leader had drawn a line on a map and ordered it to be built, no further approval would be required.