HS2 in Trafford

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Background

HS2 (High Speed Rail 2) is a massive infrastructure project intended to create high-speed rail links between London and major cities in the Midlands and North of England including Manchester.

It will cost tens of billions of pounds and is aimed at cutting journey times and increasing capacity on the rail network between key cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and London. It's hoped HS2 will create jobs and grow the UK economy outside London.

Trafford Council supports in principle the building of HS2 but does have some concerns about the impact part of the route could potentially have on residents and business and has made its views known at the appropriate times.

Trafford Council is working with HS2 Ltd and the Government to ensure that HS2 is delivered in a way which maximises the expected benefits for Trafford. More details about the planned route and how it will affect Trafford are outlined below.

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Latest news

On 3 July 2023 revised plans for the HS2 scheme were deposited in Parliament, known as Additional Provision 2 (AP2).

The revised plans for HS2 includes some changes in Trafford, mainly affecting Hale Barns and Timperley South ward, including:

  • Provision of the A538 Hale Road service road (north) to maintain access to residential properties. Hasty Lane would no longer be closed and would be extended by 147m to provide access to two areas of land severed by the Bill design.
  • Changes to the temporary slip roads leading from the A556 onto Chapel Lane.
  • Modifications to the A538 Altrincham Road and Mobberley Road junction to reduce the impact of construction traffic.
  • Amending the alignment of Timperley Brook at Flaxhigh Covert, Brooks Drive and Shay Lane.
  • Re-routing an 11kv underground power line diversion within the highway boundary of Shay Lane in Hale Barns, instead of along a private road.
  • Relocation of the M56 Junction 6, including the relocation of a number of construction compounds for the works.
  • Further development of the designs of the Metrolink provision, for which the Bill would provide the acquisition of powers, including provision for the construction of the Metrolink infrastructure and west and east approaches.
  • The petitioning period for AP2, to which anyone affected by the proposals could submit a petition, closed at 5pm on 15 August 2023. A guide on ‘What you need to know’ about the petitioning period and submitting a petition has been produced by the House of Commons to assist.
  • All petitions submitted to the HS2 Bill are publicly available to view online via the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill Select Committee (Commons) Bill petitions webpage.

In addition to the above there also changes to the construction proposed to be used by HS2 and its contractors to build the railway line and airport station.

Contact details 

Any comments or queries about the HS2 route and how it may impact you should be addressed to HS2 directly via the following contacts.

HS2 helpdesk on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk 

More information on the proposed changes on the HS2 between Hulseheath and Manchester Airport. You can keep up to date with what is happening in your local area and find out more about what the works involve.

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Meetings and events

One-to-one meetings and information events with the HS2 team

The HS2 Ltd team hold one-to-one meetings and information events where you can find out:

  • Where the Phase 2b plans are going 
  • How they will be building the railway
  • What work is happening in your local area
  • The property schemes available
  • The community and business funding available
  • Job and business opportunities 

For further information and to book your appointment visit the HS2 events website.
If you have a question about HS2 or the works, you can also contact the HS2 helpdesk team on:

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Your property

Some properties are likely to be affected directly, possibly requiring demolition. Properties can also be indirectly impacted in that a parcel of land may need to be acquired or there could be a noise or visual impact of both the construction or operation of this major new railway. 

Check the route to see if your property is:

  • in a safeguarded area in the rural support zone
  • in the homeowner payment zone
  • outside these zones

If you feel that your property is affected by the scheme, you may be able to sell your property to the government at its market (‘unblighted’) value or receive compensation from HS2.

The property scheme you’re eligible for depends on the location of your property and which phase of HS2 affects you. 

Find details of the schemes that you can apply for and whether you are eligible.

Any comments or queries about the HS2 route and how it may impact you should be addressed to HS2 directly via the following contacts:

HS2 helpdesk on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk 

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Timeline/Public Consultations

The hybrid Bill for HS2 Phase 2b (Crewe to Manchester) was laid before Parliament on 24 January 2022.

The Parliamentary Bill process is anticipated to take 2-3 years. If the hybrid Bill is passed by Parliament, work will be able to begin on constructing HS2 in Trafford.

The exact timescale for this will not be known until after approval is given, but it is anticipated that the Phase 2b Western Leg will be up and running between 2035 and 2040.

There have been multiple phases of formal consultation and petitioning periods since the Bill was deposited, summarised as follows (most recent first):

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What the Council is doing now

Following Council’s petition to the Original Bill (as deposited in January 2022) and the submission of its AP2 petition, the Council will continue to liaise with HS2 Ltd and the Government to ensure that HS2 is delivered in a way which maximises the expected benefits for Trafford, Greater Manchester and the North, including integrating HS2 with proposals for significant new development near Timperley, creating a connected a world class connected multi-modal transport hub at the Airport Station, as well as improved rail links across the cities of the North, known as Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).

There are several issues with the proposals included in the Phase 2b hybrid Bill that we believe fall short of doing these things, and we are continuing to lobby Government about these matters. The Council will also be seeking to ensure that HS2 Ltd minimise and mitigate any adverse impacts on local communities, businesses and the environment during the construction of HS2 in Trafford.

Check out the latest information on HS2.

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Contact details for comments and queries

HS2 is what is known as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and Trafford Council like residents and businesses is a consultee to the HS2 process. All comments and queries regarding HS2 must therefore be directed to HS2 Ltd.

Contact details for HS2 Ltd.

Consequently, Trafford Council cannot pass on comments, questions, representations or petitions to HS2 Ltd. on your behalf. These must be sent directly to HS2 Ltd. and/or the Government via the appropriate methods and contact details stated.

Check out the latest information on HS2.

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HS2 explained and what it means for Trafford

The Government has proposed a high-speed rail line (HS2), connecting:

  • London to the West Midlands (Phase 1)
  • West Midlands to Crewe (Phase 2a)
  • Crewe to Greater Manchester (Phase 2b)

Two new high speed rail lines were originally proposed under Phase 2b: The two routes through Trafford are known as the ‘Manchester Spur’ to Manchester Piccadilly via a new high-speed station near Manchester Airport and the ‘Golborne Link’, which would create a new line to Wigan.

The ‘Golborne Link’, which would have cut through communities in the North West of borough such as Warburton, has been removed from the Bill, however the land required for the route has been safeguarded for alternative options in the future.

A short section of high-speed track is proposed to be constructed the south-east of the borough adjacent to the M56 and Hale/ Hale Barns, arriving at a new station near Manchester Airport before entering a tunnel under Manchester and terminating at Manchester Piccadilly.

See the proposed routes, and use the route map to find the area(s) you are interested in.

This section of Phase 2b is known as ‘community areas’ MA06 Hulseheath to Manchester Airport (Manchester Spur).

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Construction start date and train commencement

The Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) includes an indicative and high-level timetable for HS2 Phase 2b between Crewe and Manchester, indicating the following timescales:

  • Early to Mid-2020s – hybrid Bill Deposition and Royal Assent
  • Mid 2020s to Late 2030s/ early 2040s – Construction of routes and stations
  • Early to Mid-2040s – Completion of Phase 2b Construction and Trains Running
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Trafford Council’s position

The Council is supportive of HS2, and believes it reinforces Trafford and Greater Manchester as the best place to live and do business in the city region, providing that the right level of regional and local connectivity is provided through a new Manchester Airport Station transport hub.

The investment in a high-speed rail connection will confirm Trafford and Greater Manchester as the most connected city region in the UK and will support existing businesses, inward investment, and job creation in and around the borough.

Whilst the Golborne Link, which caused the greatest concern to Trafford Council, has been removed from the project for now, the Council still has concerns in relation to the Airport Station and the impacts the new line, station and construction phases will have on local residents, businesses and the environment.

The Council have therefore petitioned (objected to) the Bill and are in negotiations with HS2 Ltd and Government to ensure the impacts of the long construction period on communities, businesses and the environment are minimised and mitigated as far as possible.

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Trafford Council’s role

HS2 is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and Trafford Council like residents and businesses is a consultee to the HS2 process.

As the local authority, the Council is directly affected by the HS2 proposals and as such, formally responded to the Environmental Statement that accompanied the hybrid Bill deposition. The Council (along with partners) have petitioned (objected to) the hybrid Bill to ensure that the impacts of construction on communities, businesses and the environment are minimised and mitigated as far as possible.

If the hybrid Bill receives Royal Assent and passes into law, the Council will be required to process and determine detailed planning and highway applications among other affected statutory functions.

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Maximising the benefits and minimising the impacts of HS2

The Council has established an internal cross-departmental team from across all relevant services and directorates to evaluate and respond to the various Trafford specific matters that may arise because of HS2 at all stages.

Trafford Council is also working closely and collaborating with several key partners and neighbouring authorities to ensure a consistent approach and response wherever possible, as well as sharing appropriate resources. Key partners and neighbouring authorities include Manchester City Council, Wigan Council, Cheshire East, Warrington Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, Manchester Airport Group, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and other statutory bodies.

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How the community and those directly affected will be consulted and informed

It is the responsibility of HS2 Ltd. to carry out appropriate consultation with communities and directly affected persons. Information pertaining to HS2 Ltd. community engagement can be found on the HS2 website.

The HS2 Ltd team hold one-to-one meetings and information events where you can find out:

  • Where the Phase 2b plans are going 
  • How they will be building the railway
  • What work is happening in your local area
  • The property schemes available
  • The community and business funding available
  • Job and business opportunities 

For further information and to book your appointment visit the HS2 events website.
If you have a question about HS2 or the works, you can also contact the HS2 helpdesk team on:

Whilst HS2 Ltd. is responsible for community engagement and consultation, the Council recognises that communities will naturally be interested to know what is happening and how they can be notified and/or get involved. The Council will therefore maintain and update this webpage as regularly as possible providing links to relevant documentation on the HS2 website.

HS2 Ltd. has a webpage dedicated to property owners.

Additionally, HS2 Ltd. have published a short guide for each of the ‘community areas’ which provide some useful information:

Where practicable, the Council will use a range of mechanisms, such as the local press, libraries, and social media etc. to raise awareness of key updates and/or developments.

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The next steps

HS2 Phase 2b, will be delivered by an Act of Parliament, known as a hybrid Bill. This Bill (essentially the planning application for HS2) will need to go through a number of stages in both the House of Commons and House of Lords, before receiving Royal Assent and being passed into law.

The Phase 2b Western Leg Hybrid Bill process document is available to download on the HS2 website.

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More information and who to contact

The latest information on HS2 can be found on the HS2 Ltd. website. You can also view the HS2 Bill and associated Environmental Statement documents electronically at Partington, Hale and Altrincham libraries and at the Town Hall. The information is stored on USB memory sticks which are for use within the library/ town hall only and cannot be taken away.

HS2 is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and Trafford Council like residents and businesses is a consultee to the HS2 process. All comments and queries regarding HS2 must therefore be directed to HS2 Ltd.

Trafford Council cannot pass on comments, questions, representations, or petitions to HS2 Ltd. on your behalf. These must be sent directly to HS2 Ltd. and/or the Government via the appropriate methods and contact details stated.