HS2 Phase 2 – West Midlands to Leeds and Manchester

With Phase 1 of HS2 having almost completed its progress through Parliament, attention is turning to Phase 2 of the scheme.

Whilst the precise route alignment has not been confirmed and might be refined, Phase 2 comprises two main legs:

• an eastern leg from the West Midlands to Leeds and the North East, with stations in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire; and
• a western leg from the West Midlands to Manchester and the North West, including a station at Manchester airport.

Phase 2 has also been split, as follows:

• Phase 2a – from the West Midlands to Crewe; and
• Phase 2b – from Crewe to Greater Manchester and from the West Midlands to Yorkshire.

The Government is planning for Phase 2b to come into operation in around 2033, integrated with the existing UK rail network. However, the Government wants Phase 2a to open in 2027 in order to allow the North and Scotland to realise the benefits of HS2 sooner, as Phase 2a will connect into the existing rail network south of Crewe. To achieve this, Phase 2a will be the subject of a separate hybrid bill introduced into Parliament well in advance of the bill for Phase 2b.

What next?

It is expected that a hybrid bill for Phase 2a will be introduced into Parliament in Summer 2017. The hybrid bill for Phase 2b is due to be introduced into Parliament by the end of 2019, but in advance of the introduction of the Bill, Government are consulting until 9 March 2017 upon route refinements and also upon property issues. Our experience on Phase 1 shows that it is much easier to make changes to HS2’s proposals before the bill is introduced than after, so those affected should be making sure that they respond to the consultation

In advance of the introduction of these bills there will be various public consultations to which those affected may be well advised to respond. There has already been a number of consultations about various aspects of Phases 2a and 2b and at present the Government is consulting until 9 March 2017 upon route refinements and also upon property issues, both in relation to Phase 2b.

How BDB can help

We offer a wealth of experience in these matters. We acted for well over a hundred petitioners against the Crossrail Bill, the last major hybrid bill before HS2, and we acted for numerous petitioners against the HS2 Phase 1 Bill.

In drawing up their proposals the promoters are unlikely to have taken into account all of their ramifications, or necessarily given detailed consideration to the amount of land proposed to be taken or to alternative ways of meeting their objectives. Lodging a petition is likely to be the most effective way of securing engagement with HS2 with a view to securing a satisfactory outcome, based upon a sound analysis of the situation and by pursuing well considered arguments.

We have a large team of experienced lawyers, familiar with the relevant Parliamentary processes and how best to go about trying to meet the concerns of those affected by schemes such as HS2. We are also very familiar with the HS2 scheme itself from our extensive advice to numerous clients in relation to it.

If you would like to discuss HS2 with us please contact Mark Challis by email on [email protected] or by telephone on 0207 783 3413, or contact whoever you normally deal with at the firm.

Route maps

• Phase 2a – the preferred route for Phase 2a is shown on the map at page 51 of ‘High Speed Two: East and West, the next steps to Crewe and beyond’.
• Phase 2b – the preferred route for the Western and Eastern legs of Phase 2b is shown on the schematic maps at pages 36 and 47 of ‘High Speed Two: from Crewe to Manchester, the West Midlands to Leeds and beyond’.
• Numerous documents produced by HS2 on Phase 2 include detailed route maps as provided in the current Phase 2b consultation documents upon route refinements, as mentioned above.