High Speed 2 (HS2)
On 4 October 2023 the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced that only Phase 1 - the London to Birmingham section - of HS2 would go ahead. Phases 2a and 2b of the project - the ’Northern leg’ - have been cancelled. We await further information.
High Speed 2 (HS2)
High Speed 2 (HS2) is the new high speed railway being built to connect major cities in England. When HS2 is completed trains will run at up to 225mph from London to Birmingham and on to Leeds, and from London to Crewe and on to Manchester.
HS2 is to be built in phases:
HS2 Phase 1, from London to Birmingham, has started construction. It is scheduled to be fully operational by 2033.
HS2 Phase 2a will run between Birmingham and Crewe. The final design shows the new high-speed railway lines running parallel to the West Coast Mainline through South Cheshire and Weston and Basford Parish, terminating just south of Weston Lane. A viaduct near Wychwood Village is to carry the HS2 lines over the West Coast Mainline so that HS2 trains can access the existing Mainline tracks and use Crewe station. The aim is for the first trains to run on Phase 2a by 2033.
HS2 Phase2b covers the new high speed railway lines from Crewe up to Manchester and from Birmingham to Leeds. The line from Crewe to Manchester is proposed to run under Crewe town centre in a tunnel which starts just south of Weston Lane. Phase 2b is in the early planning stages.
HS2 Phase 2a progress to date:
Royal Assent received on 11 February 2021
The High Speed Rail (West Midlands to Crewe) Bill, which authorises the building of Phase 2a, received Royal Assent on 11 February 2021.
This brings into law the construction of the high speed railway between Birmingham and Crewe. Ground investigation and other environmental works along the route are already underway and construction is expected to begin by 2024. Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, has responsibility for delivering the project.
Fly over the HS2 Phase 2a route from Crewe to the West Midlands (North to South)
Parish Council’s position/actions
Weston and Basford Parish Council believes HS2 will benefit Crewe and the surrounding area provided that a sufficient number of HS2 trains call at Crewe Station and provided that the effects of the construction and operation of the new railway on the Parish can be satisfactorily mitigated.
The Parish Council has been working closely with four neighbouring Parish Councils affected by HS2 - Doddington and District Parish Council, Hatherton and Walgherton Parish Council, Hough and Chorlton Parish Council and Wybunbury Parish Council (together the ‘Wybunbury Combined Parishes’) - and with the Cheshire East Councillor for Wybunbury Ward, Councillor Janet Clowes, to monitor progress and respond to issues as they arise.
The Parish Council, representatives of the Combined Parishes and Cheshire East Council, have had regular meetings with senior representatives from the HS2 Phase 2a team over the last five years. Issues and concerns have been raised and mitigation measures discussed.
A particular concern was the proposed use of local roads for heavy construction traffic. A petition was submitted to Parliament by the Combined Parishes in Spring 2018 objecting to the original plans. The Parish Council is pleased that the concerns raised have been taken on-board and it is has been confirmed that HS2 Ltd will use a haul road along the line of the new railway, with access from A500, for most of their construction traffic.
The Parish Council will continue to liaise closely with HS2, in conjunction with Councillor Clowes, the other Combined Parishes and Cheshire East, to monitor construction progress and discuss issues that affect our Parish.
HS2 document/website links:
CLICK HERE to see the HS2 Update for October 2021 prepared by the Community Engagement Manager HS2a Ltd
CLICK HERE to visit the website of High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd, the company owned by the Department of Transport which is to build the new high speed railway: www.HS2.org.uk
CLICK HERE to read the Phase 2a newsletter for Winter 20/Spring 21 issued by HS2 in conjunction with their main contractor, Balfour Beatty.
CLICK HERE to visit the Government’s HS2 website which gives access to all Government documents relating the new high speed railway: www.gov.uk/HS2
CLICK HERE for Parish Council’s Summary of the impact of HS2 Phase 2a on Weston and Basford Parish prepared October 2017, updated April 2020