When was it debated?

Tuesday 15 September 2015

What is it?

This is the fourth round of instructions to the HS2 Select Committee and the third and fourth set of what are called ‘additional provisions’. The Committee explains:

  • As members of that Select Committee we have had the power to amend the Bill; by limiting the powers it gives and by inserting new powers. Where the latter amendments might themselves cause particular adverse effect, they can be petitioned against. So far there has been one round of such ‘additional provisions’ to the Bill, in that case initiated by its Promoter (the Department for Transport) and largely concerned with reaching accommodation with petitioners from various parts of the line. Another round, which will include some of the matters on which we have made suggestions or recommendations, is expected after the general election. [HC 338, para 8]

In effect, the instruction will allow the Committee to consider amendments to the scheme around the London terminus at Euston Station and to other parts of the HS2 scheme, brought forward by the Promoter (the Department for Transport/HS2 Ltd.).

Those affected will be able to petition against these amendments, as they have been able to do against the initial scheme. The Committee will hear those petitions and then decide whether the amendments should be added to the Bill.

What parts of the route will be affected?

For full details, please see the instruction and the accompanying explanatory note.

In summary, it gives the Committee the power to consider amendments relating to:

  • changes to the design of Euston Station in the London Borough of Camden;
  • amendments to accommodate the requirements of landowners and occupiers and changes to the design of the works authorised by the Bill in the London Borough of Camden;
  • amendments, to accommodate changes to the design of the works authorised by the Bill and the requirements of landowners and occupiers, in a number of areas, including, the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham and Hillingdon and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; and specific areas of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Solihull, and Birmingham; and
  • amendments relating to the extension of the Chiltern tunnel in the parishes of Amersham, Little Missenden and Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire.

The plans for the new station at Euston involve the construction of 11 new platforms, to be constructed in two stages:

  • The construction of six new high speed platforms and concourse to the west of the station to support the opening of HS2 Phase One (between London and the Midlands) high speed services in 2026; and
  • The construction of five further high speed platforms and concourse to support the opening of Phase Two (between London and Leeds/Manchester) high speed services in 2033

Amongst other changes, there will be a direct subway between Euston and Euston Square London Underground stations.

What are the cost implications?

In the debate the Rail Minister, Robert Goodwill, said that the overall Phase 1 budget “is not expected to increase” as a result of these changes, including those at Euston. He went on: “many of the changes come at no additional cost, some actually produce small savings and others are absorbed by the contingency set aside at the outset specifically for the purpose of addressing petitioner issues”. [c999]

The estimated costs of previous plans for the HS2 terminus at Euston have ranged between £1 billion and £2 billion.

Has this happened before?

Yes – and it will likely happen again as the Committee continues to consider the route.

The third instruction to the Committee – and second set of additional provisions – was debated in the House of Commons on Tuesday 23 June 2015.

What happens next?

The final document outlining the proposed amendments to the scheme will be published after the debate. This is the document on which any submissions on the petitioning process can be made. In addition, a supplementary environmental statement will also be deposited.

In the debate, Mr Goodwill said that the supplementary environmental statement for Camden would be available from 16 September, for consultation until 6 November, “while the consultation period on the AP4 area will commence in mid-October—I cannot give an exact date—and will run for six weeks”. [c1013]

Further reading

Department for Transport/HS2 Ltd., High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Additional Provisions 3 and 4: explanatory note, 10 September 2015

HS2 Ltd., HS2 vision for Euston: Leaflet, 9 September 2015

Department for Transport, “HS2 plans can unlock Euston potential”, 8 September 2015

HS2 Select Committee, First Special Report of Session 2014–15, HC 338, 26 March 2015

Department for Transport, Promoter’s Response to the Select Committee’s First Special Report of Session 2014-15, 4 June 2015

HC Library, Railways: HS2 Phase 1, SN316, 19 February 2015

HC Library, High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill 2013-14, RP14-24, 22 April 2014

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