Overview
What are the timescales for this phase?
On 30 November 2015, then Chancellor, George Osborne confirmed the accelerated route from the West Midlands to Crewe, which will be referred to as Phase 2a.
It is thought that Phase 2a will open in 2027, six years ahead of the remainder of Phase 2. This will be subject to its own Hybrid Bill, which is likely to be deposited in Parliament in summer 2017.
For more information please visit the HS2 website.
What will the new line do?
Introduce a new line north from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds. It will provide 211 miles of new railway line and new stations linking the West Midlands, North West, East Midlands and Yorkshire.
View the route map for West Midlands to Leeds and Manchester.
The consultation for this route took place between July 2013 and January 2014.
We prepared joint responses to the route consultation:
A high level map of the Phase 2a route through Staffordshire can be viewed on page 51 of the Command Paper published by the Transport Secretary on 30 November 2015.
These pages will be updated as more information becomes available.
Can I petition against this phase?
Yes, as with Phase One, there will be an opportunity to petition this phase in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Further details on petitioning will be published when available.
Can I claim compensation?
The exceptional hardship scheme can help property owners who are affected by the proposals for the Phase Two line of route. The residents’ charter and further information on other compensation schemes are available on the .gov website.
View more about the exceptional hardship scheme on the .gov website.
A consultation on the exceptional hardship scheme was launched on 28 January 2013 and ended on 20 May 2013. We submitted a joint local response:
A further consultation was launched in November 2015, seeking the views of the publicon the proposal to implement the same long-term property assistance schemes for this section as for Phase One. The County Council prepared a joint response with Lichfield District Council, Stafford Borough Council and Newcastle Borough Council, which can be viewed below.
HS2 Ltd.’s response summary report can be viewed here.
Phase 2a consultations
In September 2016, HS2 Ltd. issued a set of consultations relating to the Phase 2a line of route: from Fradley to Crewe. These were:
- HS2 Phase 2a (West Midlands to Crewe) Working Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report consultation. This presented draft environmental information based on the current stage of design and assessment of Phase 2a. It included a description of the existing environment; an evaluation of the anticipated environmental impacts of the scheme; and the measures proposed to manage these impacts.
The authority’s joint response can be viewed below:
- HS2 Phase 2a (West Midlands to Crewe) Working Draft Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) Report consultation. This presented draft equality information based on the current stage of design of the Proposed Scheme.
The authority’s joint response can be viewed here:
- document to be published shortly.
- HS2 Phase 2a: West Midlands to Crewe Design Refinement consultation. This covered three changes deemed significant enough to consult on separate to the main draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); one of which is in Staffordshire. This is the construction of a temporary railhead near Stone, which potentially could be converted to a permanent maintenance facility.
The authority’s joint response can be viewed below: