HS 2 consultation 2017

Mr David Shallcross
Chairman
Leigh Ornithological Society
28 Surrey Avenue
Leigh
NN7 2NN

17th July 2017

Dear Sir,

HS2 Phase 2b: Crewe to Manchester and West Midlands to Leeds — Consultations on the draft Environmental Impact Assessment and draft Equality Impact Assessment Scope and Methodology Reports

I am writing to inform you of the launch of two consultations for the next phase of High Speed Two (HS2), from Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds — known as Phase 2b.

These consultations are on draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and draft Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) Scope and Methodology Reports (SMRs), which inform the way in which the EIA and EQIA are undertaken.

The Secretary of State for Transport recently announced the Government's decision on the route for the next phase of HS2: Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds. Construction of Phase 2b is expected to start in 2023 ready for the railway to begin operations by 2033. To obtain the legal powers to build and operate this part of the railway, the Government intends to deposit a hybrid Bill in Parliament during 2019.

To prepare for the hybrid Bill, the Government has commissioned consultants to undertake an EIA and prepare an Environmental Statement (ES). The EIA will identify the likely significant environmental effects and appropriate measures to mitigate such effects. The draft EIA SMR consultation document is available online at www.gov.uk/hs2

At the same time, to inform the development of the Phase 2b scheme, the Government has commissioned consultants to undertake an EQIA and prepare an EOIA report. The EOIA will identify any particular groups with protected characteristics that may be disproportionately affected, and actions that may be necessary to limit such effects if they arise. The draft EOIA SMR consultation document is also available online at www.gov.uk/hs2

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham B4 6GA T: 08081434 434 E: hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk www.gov.uk/h

We are now asking local authorities, relevant statutory bodies and national interest groups along the route to comment on the draft EIA SMR and draft EOIA SMRI to inform the way in which the EIA and EQIA are undertaken.

Responding to the consultations

Arup is co-ordinating the analysis of responses to these consultations. There are separate online and email response mechanisms for each consultation. Please use the correct response channels for each consultation you respond to. The FREEPOST address is the same for both consultations.

To respond to the draft EIA SMR consultation you can:
  • Use the dedicated online response form available at https://ipsos.uk/HS2Phase2bElASMR
  • Email your response to HS2ElASMRPhase2B@arup.com
  • Post your response to the following FREEPOST address (no additional address information is required and you do not need a stamp):
          FREEPOST HS2 SMR PHASE 2

To respond to the draft EQIA SMR consultation you can:
  • Use the dedicated online response form available at https://ipsos.uk/HS2Phase2bEQlASMR
  • Email your response to HS2EQlASMRPhase2B@arup.com
  • Post your response to the following FREEPOST address (no additional address information is required and you do not need a stamp):
          FREEPOST HS2 SMR PHASE 2B

Both consultations close at 23-45 on 29 September 2017. Please clearly mark on your response which consultation you are responding to.

Can we help?

If you have any further questions about these consultations, please contact our
Helpdesk on 08081434 434 (available 24/7),

by email at hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

or by using the MINICOM service on 08081 456 472.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Griffiths Phase 2b Director
High Speed Two (HS2) Limited