June 2018 | www.hs2.org.uk In your area Pickmere to Agden and Hulseheath | MA03 MA03 to Wigan High Speed Two (HS2) is the Government’s planned M56 new high speed railway. High Speed Two Limited High Legh to Manchester is the company responsible for developing and Rostherne promoting the UK’s new high speed rail network. In Mere M6 July 2017, the Government confi rmed the route for A50 A556 the next phase of HS2: Over Crewe – Manchester and Tabley HS2 Phase 2b West Midlands – Leeds (Phase 2b). Knutsford A5033 Tabley A537 Pickmere N to Birmingham Introduction This information has been produced by HS2 Ltd to update you about the route from from Pickmere to Agden and Hulseheath. It includes: • a summary of the proposed route in your area and how the design has developed since July 2017; • what we are currently working on and what we will be consulting on later in the year; • the benefi ts that HS2 will bring to your area; • how to fi nd out more about the project; and • how to get in touch with us. Page 1 of 8 The route of the proposed scheme from Pickmere to Agden and Hulseheath The Pickmere to Agden and Hulseheath community area covers approximately 13km. The route starts at the boundary between Plumley parish and Tabley Inferior parish and continues north to the west of the A556 and east of the villages of Wincham and Pickmere. The route then crosses the M6, north of junction 19, and heads towards the A50 at Hoo Green. Beyond the A50, the HS2 Manchester spur splits away from the main line. The mainline will continue north to join the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The route of the proposed scheme in this area includes the following main features; a viaduct (approximately 1220m) to take the high speed line over the A556, the A559, Linnards Lane, Peover Eye and Smoker Brook floodplain. Two further viaducts to take the By improving the high speed line over Arley Brook (approximately 102m) and over connectivity between our the M6 motorway just north of junction 19 near Winterbottom (approximately 50m). major population centres, HS2 will give businesses A deep cutting to take the high speed line underneath the A50 access to the skills, labour at Hoo Green. A small tunnel (approx. 230m) will be built in this and services they need cutting (the Hoo Green tunnel) to allow the Manchester Spur to to change the economic cross over the mainline. geography of the country. The high speed line will continue in a cutting, crossing under the M56 before rising onto an embankment to continue towards David Higgins the WCML. Chairman of HS2 Ltd Royal Cheshire Show The route would cross land in Pickmere on which the Royal Cheshire Show is held annually. We are working closely with the Show organisers to find a solution that would allow the Show to continue into the future. Design development Since the community information events in September 2017, we have continued to develop our design for the railway, which will be included in the working draft Environmental Statement that you will have an opportunity to give feedback on later this year. We have also produced detailed maps showing the evolving design that includes construction compounds, road realignments and public rights of way. These show our work in progress and are likely to be refined or changed before we publish them as part of a consultation later in the year. To view the maps, please visit www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/building-the-line/phase-2b/mid- 2018-information-events. Our design development now includes the proposed sites for pieces of infrastructure needed to power the railway. In this community area this includes an autotransformer feeder station at an area to the east of the alignment at Hoo Green near the A50 and an autotransformer station near to Providence Farm. Page 2 of 8 Transport for the North and Midlands Connect We are working with Transport for the North and Midlands Connect to consider how HS2 can help further improve connectivity, and the Government is currently considering whether additional connections should be included in the Phase 2b scheme. Once the Government has decided how this work should be taken forward, we will explain what this means for the design of the Phase 2b route. Environmental Impact Assessment As part of the development of the Phase 2b proposed scheme, we are carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment that will identify the likely significant effects of the construction and operation of the railway and the means to reduce or avoid such National College effects. This will be reported in our Environmental Statement, for High Speed Rail which will accompany the hybrid Bill that we expect to deposit in The newly opened National Parliament in late 2019. College for High Speed For the purposes of reporting the findings of the Environmental Rail will play a key role in Impact Assessment the Phase 2b route has been divided into 26 generating the workforce ‘community areas’, of which Pickmere to Agden and Hulseheath is of the future, designing one (reference MA03). The working draft and formal Environmental and building the UK’s new Statement will have a detailed report for each community area. high speed rail network This will include an assessment of the local environment and likely and future infrastructure significant effects of the proposed scheme, suggested methods projects including HS2. of reducing or avoiding those effects, and the proposals for With state-of-the-art monitoring our impact during construction and operation. facilities in Birmingham As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process, we and Doncaster, the are carrying out surveys to better understand the current local college offers courses environment including noise conditions and ecology. We have also and apprenticeships in been engaging with local authorities, parish councils and other all elements of the rail statutory bodies to collect information and local knowledge. industry whether leaving More information about our survey work can be found online at: school, wanting to up- www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-environmental- skill, or take a new career surveys-being-carried-out-by-hs2 direction. HS2 alone is Future consultations set to create 25,000 new Later in the year, we will consult on a working draft of the jobs, including 2,000 Environmental Statement. This will be an opportunity to see and apprenticeships, and comment on our work in progress. Parliament does not require careers in this industry us to consult on a draft of the document; however we believe it are set to become more is important for communities and stakeholders to have a formal and more sought after. opportunity, to understand the progress of our work and provide feedback at this stage. If you would like further information, or to apply, This will also be accompanied by the working draft Equality Impact visit the college website Assessment, which identifies people with protected characteristics that may be disproportionately affected and any action that may www.nchsr.ac.uk/ be necessary to limit such effects. Feedback to these consultations call the college on will be considered in the development of the proposed scheme 0330 120 0375 or email on presented to Parliament. [email protected] Page 3 of 8 This map shows the route of HS2 through the community area, however, Broomedge owing to the scale we have to not included emerging Glazebrook design details. To see more MA04 detailed maps, please visit www.hs2.org.uk/ building-hs2/building-the- line/phase-2b/mid-2018- information-events. Please note: These maps are based on our emerging design and may change as we continue to refine the design, complete environmental assessments and take into consideration Hulseheath further feedback. to Manchester Airport Pickmere to MA06 Agden and Hulseheath MA03 MA02 Pickmere to Agden and Hulseheath Maps updated .indd 24 04/06/2018 11:17:53 The benefits of HS2 in your region • HS2 will offer faster, more frequent and more reliable travel between cities and areas of the UK and will increase capacity on our congested railways. • With journey times from Warrington to London cut to just over an hour, HS2 represents a significant uplift in connectivity for the three million people who live within 30 minutes’ drive of Warrington. This is the largest workforce catchment in the UK outside of London and Warrington has been working to ensure HS2 is integrated in its plans for economic growth. • HS2 will allow businesses across the North West to collaborate Factsheets with supply chains and research partners, draw on a deeper pool of skills, access new sources of finance and support networks, HS2 Ltd has published and secure new customers in regions across Britain. factsheets that explain • Over 75 companies in the North West have already been awarded how we intend to manage work on HS2, either directly or through its supply chain, and HS2 areas of concern and Ltd has engaged with more than 400 businesses in the North minimise impacts West on potential opportunities. on the environment. • Around 50 businesses from across the North West, 69% of which These factsheets are SMEs, met with HS2’s direct contractors at their largest supply can be found online at: chain engagement event to date in May 2018. www.hs2.org.uk/building- • HS2 will also offer graduates greater opportunities to build a hs2/building-the-line/ career in the North West by providing fast, frequent and reliable phase-2b/mid-2018- access to job opportunities in a broader network of places information-events without the need to relocate.