On 9th March 2023, the Secretary of State for Transport restated the Government’s commitment to the HS2 project whilst also protecting value for money for the taxpayer. Continuing to progress the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill through Parliament is a vital part of this commitment. The first running of services on the Crewe – Manchester section of the railway remains within the estimated 2035 – 2041 date range.
On 3rd July 2023 the Secretary of State for Transport deposited Additional Provision 2 (AP2) to the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill with Parliament. Additional Provisions are a normal part of hybrid bills: the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017 had five Additional Provisions during its passage through Parliament, and the High Speed Rail (West Midlands – Crewe) Act 2021 had two.
Parliament has now begun a consultation on the detailed Environmental Statement and Supplementary Environmental Statement which accompany AP2 and set out the impacts and proposed mitigations of the scheme. This consultation will run until 31st August 2023 and a report summarising the consultation responses will be prepared for Parliament. A report on all the Environmental Statement consultations will be published in advance of Third Reading.
The full suite of documents is available to view electronically at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hs2-phase-2b-high-speed-rail-crewe-manchester-additional-provision-2
or from High Legh Parish Council and Lymm and Knutsford Libraries. Please contact the Parish Clerk to arrange viewing on clerk@highleghparishcouncil.gov.uk or 01925 754818.
Further details on the Additional Provision, Petitioning, Public Consultation and other deposit locations of the Book of Reference can be found on the HS2 website at: HS2 Phase 2b: High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Additional Provision 2 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Please contact the HS2 Helpdesk if you have questions about any part of the HS2 project. The helpdesk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, using the following contact details:
Freephone: 08081 434 434
Email: hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk
Address: Two Snow Hill,
Queensway,
Birmingham,
B4 6GA