Full steam ahead as HS2 receives Royal Assent

Britain’s second dedicated high-speed railway line sped ever closer to construction on Thursday, with the bill giving HS2 the go-ahead receiving Royal Assent.

The Department for Transport said construction would now begin on schedule in the spring.

Alongside assent, Thursday saw the launch of schemes totalling £70m for communities along the route between Birmingham and London.

“Getting the go-ahead to start building HS2 is a massive boost to the UK’s future economic prosperity and a further clear signal that Britain is open for business,” said Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

“HS2 will be the world’s most advanced passenger railway and the backbone of our rail network.

“Royal Assent is a major step towards significantly increasing capacity on our congested railways for both passengers and freight; improving connections between the biggest cities and regions; generating jobs, skills and economic growth and helping build an economy that works for all.”

According to the Government, HS2 would create around 25,000 jobs during construction as well as 2,000 apprenticeships.

It would also support growth in the wider economy, reportedly worth an additional 100,000 jobs.

“This journey will see businesses right along the route benefit from greater access to the skills, markets and professional services they need to succeed in today’s global market,” said HS2 chairman Chris Higgins.

“It will directly create some 25,000 jobs as well as forcing the pace of innovation in the construction industry.

“Throughout this process HS2 remains committed to mitigating the environmental impacts whilst continuing to engage with each individual community which is making sacrifices to enable a 21st century railway network to be built in Britain.”

The High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) hybrid Bill received significant support from MPs, who voted 399 to 42 in favour in the House of Commons.

In the Lords, the figures were 386 to 26 in support of the Bill passing.

The government also introduced a “comprehensive package” of compensation and assistance for those directly affected by HS2.

They included the Homeowner Payment (HOP) scheme, available to property owners in rural areas who live between 120 and 300 metres from the HS2 line wherever it is not in a deep tunnel.

Eligible property owners would be able apply for £7,500, £15,000 or £22,500, depending on how close they live to the proposed line.

Two other funds, worth £40m, were also opened for bids - the Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF).

The CEF was intended to help enhance community facilities, improve access to the countryside and conserve the natural environment, while the BLEF would support local economies in areas where businesses may experience disruption from the construction of HS2.

Both funds were to be allocated at a regional level, with £15m for the central area of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire, £7.5m for Greater London and £7.5m for the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry.

The remaining £10m would fund cross-border or route wide projects.

A further £30m road safety fund was also confirmed, to go towards local road safety schemes in areas not currently accustomed to construction traffic.

The Department for Transport said that would help provide a “legacy of improvements” for areas adversely affected by Phase One traffic.