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High Speed Rail (HS2)
Latest News
- Maps of HS2 Y route through North Warwickshire Maps we have downloaded as gov.uk slow
- Maps can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/hs2-phase-two-initial-preferred-route-plan-and-profile-maps#route-map-west-midlands-to-manchester
Alliance of councils issue statement on latest HS2 announcement
Published Monday 28th January 2013
The group of 18 Councils known as 51m stated that they agree with the Prime Minister that the country needs investment and growth in it's infrastructure but it is needed now, not in 2033. Behind the 'spin' the reality is that the business case for HS2 has collapsed, the capacity argument has been exposed in the High Court and the economic benefits are not supported by any serious economists. HS2 will cost taxpayers an eye watering £33bn, equivalent to the country's entire defence budget, and yet has been shown conclusively to be poor value for money.
Read full 'Alliance of council' article
Concerns over latest announcement on HS2 route
Published Monday 28th January 2013
Government announces second phase Y route for HS2
- Maps of HS2 Y route through North Warwickshire Maps we have downloaded as gov.uk slow
- Maps can be viewed at http://www.dft.gov.uk/
Concerns are mounting at North Warwickshire Borough Council after the latest Government announcement on the 'Y' route for the High Speed Rail (HS2) link.
The route for Phase 1 runs from London to the West Midlands whilst the Y route will go from Birmingham, follow the M42 through North Warwickshire and continue to Sheffield and Leeds.
The Borough Council has repeatedly emphasised during the consultation process that the business case for the rail link is flawed, the consultation process was inadequate, benefits to the country would be negligible and that North Warwickshire will be one of the worst affected areas. The route through the Borough would severely affect residents and businesses particularly in Coleshill, Water Orton and Middleton whilst the proposed 10,000 space car park near to the NEC would seriously impact on the already congested road networks in the area.
Exceptional Hardship Scheme
Alongside the Phase Two announcement, the Government has launched a consultation on the Exceptional Hardship Scheme for Phase 2 routes to Leeds and Manchester . The scheme aims to assist eligible residential and small business owner-occupiers whose property value may be affected by the initial preferred route options for Phase Two of the network. Further details on the EHS consultations are available on http://www.hs2.org.uk/.
The closing date for responses is 29th April 2013
Councils challenge government in court on proposed High Speed Rail link.
THE 15 councils opposing the high speed rail link, HS2, will be in court on 3rd December where their judicial review of the Government's decision to press ahead with the £34billion project will be heard. See our latest news for the full report - High Speed Rail press releases and previous press releases.
Other useful links
North Warwickshire Borough Council is not the responsible authority for this project. The Government has set up a body responsible for its delivery - HS2 Ltd. Their website carries most of the relevant information.
The route will pass through North Warwickshire. A new interchange station is to be constructed where the line passes the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Birmingham Airport, just outside of the Borough. North of this interchange, the route will pass west of Tamworth towards Lichfield, where it will join the West Coast Main Line for services to Manchester, Liverpool and Scotland. A junction at Water Orton will provide a link into Birmingham city centre, which would follow the existing rail corridor and terminate at a new station at Curzon Street. You can view the proposed route and detailed maps here.
HS2 Property Compensation and Safeguarding consultations
This consultation is now closed
On 25 October 2012, the Secretary of State for Transport, announced the launch of the Property and Compensation Consultation for Phase One of HS2 between London and the West Midlands.
This consultation began on Thursday 25 October 2012 and closed on Thursday 31 January 2013.
The Government believes that compensation for property owners affected by the HS2 proposals must reflect the significant impact that comes with the construction of a high speed rail line.
This consultation asked for your views on the detail of the Government's proposals:
- A streamlined system of advanced and voluntary purchase to simplify the process for property owners in the safeguarded area and provide greater certainty for those immediately outside it
- A sale and rent back scheme to allow homeowners whose property will need to be demolished to sell their homes but remain living in them as tenants until the properties are required for the railway
- A hardship scheme to help those that need to move during the development of HS2, but are unable to sell their home despite being outside both the safeguarded area and the voluntary purchase zone
- A series of measures designed to provide confidence in properties above tunnels; and
- A framework for working with local authorities, housing associations and affected tenants to agree a joint strategy to replace any social rented housing which is lost.
If you responded online to this consultation you can continue to view your submission using your existing login details at:
Consultation
The consultation closed on the 29 July 2011. Following consideration of the representations made, the Secretary of State for Transport decided to approve the project, with only minor changes in North Warwickshire, on 10 January 2012.
