High Speed Two Ltd is a company established by the UK Department for Transport in 2009 to investigate the feasibility of building a new high
speed rail line between London and Scotland. The company was tasked with producing a detailed report and business case
for a London to West Midlands high speed route by end 2009, and with higher level appraisal of options to extend further north
to Manchester, Leeds, other parts of north England, and Scotland.
Essential Planning
Limited provided expert environmental assessment, planning and stakeholder engagement advice to the HS2 Ltd team to ensure
delivery of an appraisal of sustainability report alongside a suite of other HS2 documents to the Secretary of State for
Transport by end 2009. A range of reports were published in March 2010 on the Department for Transport website. The Appraisal of Sustainability and various other related documents will be published in 2011, to accompany
a strategic consultation on the proposals.
In particular, through the expert services of Tanya Burdett in the role of Manager, Environmental
Assessment, we provided:
- guidance on spatial planning
implications and compliance with EU Directives including the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, Habitats Directive,
and obligations under the Public Participation Directive and Aarhus Convention
- guidance on the level and nature of environmental and sustainability appraisal required
- management of the tendering process and work undertaken by consultants appointed to undertake the Appraisal of Sustainability
of HS2 proposals
- stakeholder liaison including regular briefings
of the HS2 Technical Challenge Group, AoS Reference Group and other ad hoc groups established to discuss particular impacts
including climate change and noise impacts
- briefing of Ministers
including the Secretary of State for Transport on the key impacts of the proposals, potential for mitigation, and recommendations
for improvements in scheme design
- advice on preparation for the strategic consultation on HS2 proposals, expected in early 2011
