HS2: Public Consultations on Impact of Phase 2B Route Open Until 21 December

Leeds Station, HS2 Phase 2b route © Timothy E. Baldwin (licence)

HS2 Ltd has launched 2 public consultations on Phase 2b route of the line, which will serve communities between the West Midlands, Manchester and Leeds. The consultations will enable communities to formally respond to the design and proposed mitigation measures for the route presented in the working drafts of the Environmental Statement and the Equality Impact Assessment Report.

The working draft of the Environmental Statement describes the design of the railway and the potential impact of the construction and operation of it on communities, and the proposed measures to monitor and mitigate this. The working draft of the Equality Impact Assessment Report describes the potential impact of the construction and operation of the railway on people with protected characteristics. The consultations will be open until 21 December 2018.

The public consultations will be supported by a programme of events in the community. Teams from HS2 Ltd will visit locations across the area covered by the Phase 2b route to talk to communities about the design plans for the line and the benefits that Britain’s new high speed railway will bring.

Leonie Dubois, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Consultation and Engagement, said:

“HS2 is coming to the north and it will reap significant benefits as a result. High speed rail will play a crucial role in rebalancing Britain’s economy; driving business growth, stimulating investment and creating jobs right across the country.Through the public consultations, we are providing a more detailed account of how we propose to build the railway and minimise its impacts during construction and operation. We actively encourage people to have their say on the plans we have published today.”

In response to the announcement Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said:

“It is good to see the draft environmental assessment for HS2 Phase 2b published today – a significant milestone for the scheme, which is now moving at pace. It is important to recognise that HS2 will not just deliver greater connectivity for the UK, but it will also provide economic growth, investment and jobs, benefiting communities right across the country. So it is vital that Phase 2 of the project progresses through Parliament so that the full benefits of the scheme can be realised”.

The latest designs for the Phase 2b route can be viewed here, where residents and businesses in the affected communities can also respond to the consultations. Information on the presence of HS2 in their area is also available.