Cheshire East Council secures HS2 Phase 2b package of commitments
By Rich Wilcock
14th Mar 2023 | HS2
Cheshire East Council has announced that it has withdrawn its petition against High-Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill after it secured a package of commitments from both the Government and HS2 Ltd.
The petition had been raised against the Bill by the council initially to address concerns about some of the impacts HS2 would have on the environment, traffic, and ecology of the area.
The Bill seeks the powers to construct and operate Phase 2b of HS2 (Crewe to Manchester) and had its Second Reading in the House of Commons in June last year.
One of the key commitments secured, directly from the government by the council, is an extensive appraisal of what work is required at Crewe Station to support HS2 for the station development to meet the needs of the passenger and regeneration potential for the town to be undertaken.
The Government has confirmed that the study will utilise the council's existing plans and regeneration frameworks so that the authority's ambitions for a Crewe Hub, which include a new transfer deck to make it easier for people to access platforms and to change between trains at Crewe, are fully considered.
It is expected the results of the appraisal will be presented to the council later this year.
Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "I am pleased to announce the package of assurances and undertakings we have received and that we have secured some significant opportunities and benefits through this process.
"I would like to make it clear that withdrawing our petitions does not mean that we have concluded our efforts to secure the council's shared vision for an enhanced Crewe hub station that can accommodate between five to seven HS2 trains per hour, nor to seek the appropriate mitigation against the negative impacts of the scheme and its construction.
"The council will have further opportunity to influence the scheme and to petition the Bill as it progresses through Parliament and will continue to do this in consultation with local ward members and town councils."
The government confirmed last week that the Birmingham to Crewe leg of HS2 would be delayed by two years which would have a knock-on effect on the timetable for delivery for the Crewe to Manchester phase and was naturally met with disappointment from the council.
Speaking at the time of the announcement of the delay, In a joint statement, Councillor Sam Corcoran and Cllr Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its highways and transport committee, said: "We are naturally very disappointed by the announcement from the Government that construction of some sections of the HS2 route, which will affect sections from Birmingham to Crewe, and from Crewe to Manchester, is now delayed.
"This means a delay in HS2 coming to the north, and a delay in the benefits and opportunities it would bring to the north being realised."
The commitments that have been secured include additional highway junction improvements, road safety mitigations and assurances relating to the impact on the environment, biodiversity of the area and mitigation of construction traffic.
Councillor Craig Browne, commented on the withdrawal of the bill, said: "The council has been clear that whilst it is minded to support the HS2 scheme in principle and recognises the major economic benefits and opportunities it would bring, it also recognises that there will be communities that will be adversely affected by it and this support remains conditional.
"I am pleased that through extensive negotiations, we have now secured a number of commitments from both HS2 Ltd and the Government – including in relation to the scheme's impacts on the environment, landscape, ecology and local transport network – that collectively will provide a better outcome for Cheshire East and its communities.
"We needed to ensure that we responded robustly to the proposals and that when the scheme is delivered, it is delivered in a way that provides the appropriate levels of mitigation and maximises the opportunities available, and that these are brought forward as early as possible."
READ MORE: Government confirm delay to HS2
READ MORE: Government 'still committed' to HS2 to Manchester
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