On 24th January 2022, High Speed 2 (HS2) are depositing the Hybrid Bill into Parliament. This section will link Phase 2A from Crewe to Manchester and to include the Golborne spur.
The new Hybrid Bill once passed will grant HS2 the compulsory purchase powers to acquire land and buildings to construct the high-speed railway and all the associated road and utility diversions. The compulsory purchase powers will also include all the environmental mitigation measures such as tree planting, newt habitats and grasslands.
There will be several documents to be published, including the Environmental Statement and non-technical summary, and a significant number of maps and plans for the various areas affected by the scheme. These documents will be available online and at the number of HS2 Phase 2B public information events that will no doubt be held soon.
Once the Hybrid Bill has been read twice in the House of Commons, this will open up the petitioning period, whereby anyone who has property affected by the scheme, can petition against their proposals and ultimately be heard in front of the Select Committee at the House of Commons.
The timescales in relation to Phase 2B are as follows:
- The Petitioning period 12 – 18 months
- Royal Assent Spring 2026
- Early environmental planting and utility diversions late 2026/ early 2027
- Main construction of railway 2028
- Completion and the railway being operational 2035/36
It is worth taking into consideration that the Phase 2A Hybrid Bill was deposited in July 2017 and only received Royal Assent in February 2021, however this was due to General Elections and periods of Purdah.
Tom Selby of Rostons stated “It was proposed that the Hybrid Bill was to be deposited in late 2021, however was delayed. It is most frustrating for those property owners and occupiers on the Golborne Spur as this is still included in the bill but is still being reviewed by union connectivity review panel and yet to be confirmed. The key to petitioning is ensure that reasonable, practical requests are made and these have been evidenced with early engagement.”