Useful information and archive

On Wednesday 15 April, the Government gave approval to HS2 Ltd to issue Notice to Proceed for the Phase One route of HS2 from Birmingham to London. It did this in order to give the construction industry certainty while the country is suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, the Department for Transport published its HS2 Phase One full business case.

Regular visitors to our website will know that, along with many other organisations, we continue to have grave concerns, and unanswered questions, regarding the irrevocable damage that HS2 will cause to the natural beauty and tranquillity of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The Chilterns Conservation Board is therefore extremely disappointed that this notice to proceed has been issued. We are also particularly concerned at the Government’s admission in the Full Business Case that

“Rapid developments and the uncertain outcome of the COVID-19 outbreak mean it has not been possible within the FBC to undertake specific analysis to determine the outbreak’s potential longer-term impacts to transport passenger demand.” [1]

The Government also acknowledges that “…until new information is available on the potential longer-term impact of COVID-19 on long-term demand and economic growth it is not possible to say whether this will materially impact the Value for Money of HS2.” [2]

Given the uncertainties created by Covid-19, we urge the Government to revisit its assumptions on passenger demand and economic growth, and to rethink HS2.

[20 April 2020]

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-one-full-business-case (paragraph 20)
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-one-full-business-case (paragraph 21)

In August 2019 the Chilterns Conservation Board welcomed the Governments independent review of the HS2 programme and wrote to Douglas Oakervee, Chair of the HS2 Review setting out our deep concerns for the irrevocable damage to the natural beauty and tranquillity of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The Oakervee review of HS2 concluded in February 2020 and we were deeply saddened to discover the recommendation that HS2 should go ahead and subsequent decision to that effect by the Government.  We believe that the context of HS2 has changed considerably since Parliament approved the project and take the view that, to continue with HS2, would not only be damaging to the environment and people’s wellbeing but also be directly contradictory to key Government policies and ambitions.

In the timeline below, you can follow the recent work of the Chilterns Conservation Board and other organisations to hold HS2’s contractors to account over the felling of ancient woodland, the contamination of water supplies, damage to river banks and other failures to protect wildlife species affected.

The Chiltern Society has been keeping a photographic record of changes to the Chilterns and Colne Valley Park as construction progresses. View the Chiltern Society HS2 Photographic Diary.

• 8 September 2021: Parliament to debate whether to rethink HS2.
• 7 June 2021: HS2 outlines plans to stop Chiltern tunnelling contaminating local water supplies: Read more here.
• 5 May 2021: Read our joint statement with Buckinghamshire Council raising concerns about the impact of HS2 tunnelling operations.
• HS2, requirements for Protected Species licences and Natural England’s role  – see Natural England’s information note here.
• 15 April: the Government gives approval to HS2 Ltd to issue Notice to Proceed for the Phase One route of HS2 from Birmingham to London – read our response
• 11 & 15 March 2021: Chilterns Conservation Board publishes update on its efforts to hold HS2 Ltd and its contractors to account
• 10 March 2021: Buckinghamshire Council publishes a statement on the works at Leather Lane, potentially involving the felling of ancient oak trees.
• 27 January 2021: Chilterns Conservation Board highlights the increase in concerns over HS2 activities
• 7 January 2021: HS2 contractors under fire for ‘catalogue of errors’ at rural sites. MP tells select committee local sheriffs needed to hold building firms to account. Read the full article.
• November 2020: Ancient wood at Grims Ditch is destroyed by HS2 – see video below
• 18 November 2020: The Commons Public Accounts Committee has written to the Department for Transport seeking an update on its activities, including their concerns over uncertainties regarding HS2: its environmental impacts, the effect of Covid-19 on its business case & ‘not taking concerns over transparency seriously’. Read the letter here.
• 30 October 2020: Chilterns Conservation Board writes to HS2’s CEO to set out concerns regarding activities at Jones’ Hill Wood. Read the letter and subsequent correspondence here.
• 24 September 2020: Chilterns Conservation Board’s position on HS2 Amersham Vent Shaft
• 13 July 2020: High Speed 2 (HS2) has been classified as “unachievable” by the government’s Infrastructure & Project’s Authority (IPA). Click here to read more.
• Read the Public Accounts Committee report, published 17 May 2020, which says the High Speed 2 rail project has gone “badly off course”, and demands that Government gives regular, accurate and open updates on the problems the project is facing and progress on developing the appropriate skills and capabilities.
• Wednesday 12 February 2020: Chilterns Conservation Board deeply saddened as the Government gives the green light to High Speed 2
• Read the National Audit Office’s HS2 Progress Update Report, Published 24 January 2020
• Link to the Oakervee Report of HS2: Oakervee Review of HS2
• Tuesday 8 October 2019: HS2 enabling works continuing in the Chilterns AONB despite the current Oakervee Review
• Tuesday 1 October 2019 High Speed 2 (HS2) – Latest Developments
• Link to the Wildlife Trusts review of HS2: Full report of HS2
• HS2 Plan and Profile Maps are available from the HS2 website at the following link: HS2 Plan and Profile Maps
• Link to Map showing AONB boundary
• Read our appeal to Mr Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport to pause “enabling works” in the Chilterns AONB