HS2 Phase Two Initial Preferred Scheme Sustainability Summary
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HS2 Phase Two Initial Preferred Scheme Sustainability Summary January 2013 HS2 Phase Two Initial Preferred Scheme Sustainability Summary A Report for HS2 Ltd High Speed Two (HS2) Limited, 2nd Floor, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU [email protected] Principal author Nick Giesler Key contributors Andrew Mayes, Charlene Baker, Tamsin Lowe, Jonathan Say, Lucy Hayward and Amy Cook Technical contributors Landscape & townscape Julie Martin Cultural heritage Julian Munby and Jill Hind Biodiversity Jon Riley Water and flood risk Tony Clothier, Fiona Parry and Nick Moult Noise and vibration John Fisk, Ismail Alli-Balogun and Sasha Villa Socio-economics John Siraut and Amanda Pownall Resources and consumption Steve Glenny Reviewers Mark Southwood and Bruce Davidson This report was commissioned by, and prepared for HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport (DfT) by Temple Group Ltd and Environmental Resources Management ('The Consultant'). The findings and conclusions set forth in this report represent the best professional judgment of the Consultant based on information made available to it. The Consultant has relied on, and not independently verified, data provided to it by such sources and on secondary sources of information cited in the report. We disclaim any responsibility to the client and others in respect of any matters outside the scope of the above. We accept no responsibility to third parties to whom this report, or any part, thereof is made available. Any such party relies upon the report at their own risk. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ 1 1. CONTEXT FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY SUMMARY ......................................................... 5 2. HS2 AND THE INITIAL PREFERRED SCHEME ................................................................ 5 3. THE APPRAISAL OF SUSTAINABILITY PROCESS ......................................................... 8 3.1. Strategic approach ................................................................................................... 8 3.2. Support to option sifting ........................................................................................... 9 4. SCHEME DESCRIPTION SUMMARY ............................................................................... 12 4.1. Initial preferred scheme: western leg route, stations and depots ............................ 12 4.2. Initial preferred scheme: eastern leg route, stations and depots ............................ 16 5. DESCRIBING SUSTAINABILITY IMPACTS AND THEIR MITIGATION ........................... 22 5.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 22 5.2. Planning and development ..................................................................................... 23 5.3. Employment and housing ...................................................................................... 24 5.4. Access issues ........................................................................................................ 24 5.5. Property and settlements ....................................................................................... 25 5.6. Noise ..................................................................................................................... 25 5.7. Landscape ............................................................................................................. 26 5.8. Cultural heritage .................................................................................................... 26 5.9. Biodiversity and wildlife .......................................................................................... 27 5.10. Water resources and flood risk .............................................................................. 27 5.11. Land use resource ................................................................................................. 28 5.12. Waste and material use ......................................................................................... 28 6. POTENTIAL SUSTAINABILITY IMPACTS: WESTERN LEG ........................................... 29 6.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 29 6.2. Planning and development ..................................................................................... 29 6.3. Employment and housing ...................................................................................... 30 6.4. Access issues ........................................................................................................ 30 6.5. Property and settlements ....................................................................................... 31 6.6. Noise ..................................................................................................................... 31 6.7. Landscape ............................................................................................................. 32 6.8. Cultural heritage .................................................................................................... 34 6.9. Biodiversity and wildlife .......................................................................................... 35 6.10. Water resources and flood risk .............................................................................. 36 6.11. Land use resources ............................................................................................... 37 6.12. Waste and material use ......................................................................................... 37 7. POTENTIAL SUSTAINABILITY IMPACTS: EASTERN LEG ............................................ 38 7.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 38 7.2. Planning and development ..................................................................................... 38 7.3. Employment and housing ...................................................................................... 39 7.4. Access issues ........................................................................................................ 40 7.5. Property and settlements ....................................................................................... 40 7.6. Noise ..................................................................................................................... 41 7.7. Landscape ............................................................................................................. 41 7.8. Cultural heritage .................................................................................................... 45 7.9. Biodiversity and wildlife .......................................................................................... 47 7.10. Water resources and flood risk .............................................................................. 48 7.11. Land use resources ............................................................................................... 49 7.12. Waste and material use ......................................................................................... 49 8. HS2 POTENTIAL COMBINED IMPACTS ......................................................................... 50 MAPS ……………………………………………………………………………………...............54 Executive summary The initial preferred scheme This Sustainability Summary describes the potential impacts on people and the environment, both adverse and beneficial, of the Government's initial preferred scheme for Phase Two of High Speed Two (HS2), the proposed national high speed rail network. Appraisal work is ongoing, but the Summary reflects the findings of the appraisal undertaken to date. Further information on the proposals is set out in the DfT‟s High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain’s Future. Phase Two: The route to Leeds, Manchester and beyond. Phase Two will comprise northward extensions of the HS2 Phase One route along separate western and eastern legs via Manchester and Leeds respectively. The western leg of the initial preferred scheme would ultimately connect with the West Coast Main Line near Golborne; it would include a station in Manchester city centre, as well as a station at Manchester Airport. The eastern leg would connect with the East Coast Main Line south- west of York; as well as a station in Leeds, it would include intermediate stations at Toton near Nottingham (called the East Midlands Hub) and at Meadowhall, Sheffield. The initial preferred scheme has been chosen by Government from a number of alternatives presented to it by HS2 Ltd in March 2012. Following discussions about the scheme with affected local councils and MPs, the Government is expected to announce a preferred scheme for public consultation later this year. Sustainability and design The initial preferred scheme has emerged from several hundred options as the one considered overall to best meet objectives for passenger demand, cost, ease-of-build, journey time and sustainability. Considerations of sustainability have been integral to scheme design since commencing work on Phase Two in autumn 2010. During this time, the sustainability team has worked closely with the engineers to develop route and station proposals that fit as far as possible with the environment and communities they pass. However, we are at an early stage in the development of the scheme: more work will be