Agenda item

The Committee will receive an update on the HS2 project in Buckinghamshire.

Contributors:

HS2

Maddelyn Sutton, Head of Engagement, HS2

Rohan Perin, Client Director, HS2

David Emms, Client Director, HS2

Simon Matthews, Interface & Stakeholder Director, EKFB

David Eve, Head of Engagement & Compliance, Align

Gary Rogerson, Senior Environment Manager, HS2

Buckinghamshire Council

Cllr Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport

Cllr Peter Martin, Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport – HS2/East West Rail

Richard Lumley, Service Director for Strategic Transport & Infrastructure

Dr Laura Leech, Head of Major Projects

Rod Black, HS2 Highways Approvals Team Leader

Gavin Kingsnorth, HS2 Consents

The Chairman welcomed representatives from HS2 Ltd and invited them to introduce themselves to the Select Committee:

Maddelyn Sutton, Head of Engagement, HS2

Rohan Perin, Client Director, HS2

David Emms, Client Director, HS2

Simon Matthews, Interface & Stakeholder Director, EKFB

Gary Rogerson, Senior Environment Manager, HS2

Darielle Proctor, Head of Engagement & Compliance, Align

Joel Sykes, Senior Engagement & Interface Manager, HS2

HS2 Ltd gave a presentation to the Select Committee which began by outlining the responsibilities between Align and EKFB. The project was on track for delivery and handover around September 2025. Works would increase for the Align main works (C1) with five shafts under construction supported by a main depot in Maple Cross. Expected works in 2022 were viaduct deck gantry launches and continued construction of 57 viaduct piers between the Hertfordshire border and the Colne River. The EKFB main works for 2022 included the completion of site infrastructure such as compounds, internal site access roads, temporary bridges and temporary drainage networks. Additionally, viaducts, bridges and highways would be constructed with the bulk of materials being imported by rail.

HS2 Ltd had a community engagement strategy which committed to:

·       Informing – updating on issues that affect the local area.

·       Involving – involvement in the opportunities as HS2 is planned and built.

·       Responding – listening to you and helping with questions and concerns.

The teams delivering the strategy were based locally and it was felt the project was starting to benefit from the reintroduction of face-to-face engagement post-Covid 19. HS2’s website also contained localised information on project works. The project had a mobile visitor centre which welcomed people to explore behind hoardings which facilitated explanations of the project to the community. The project promoted £40m funding available to community and business groups along the Phase One route. £3,350,000 had be awarded in Buckinghamshire and 58 local projects had received funding since 2017. The Chiltern Forest Golf Club 2018 Ltd had recently been awarded £27,326 of funding towards their ‘Accessibility for All’ project. Further funding was available through the Road Safety fund, Woodland fund, Area Specific funding and localised community investment. The presentation also highlighted the jobs, skills and business opportunities of the HS2 project.

Regarding the environment and sustainability, HS2 intended to plant up to 7 million trees and shrubs along the Phase One route and over 400,000 trees already been planted in Buckinghamshire. Over 40 wildlife habitat and planting sites had been created in the county which contained grasslands, ponds, badger sets, bat boxes and reptile habitats. Ahead of the main works, there had been extensive ecological and archaeological works. The carbon impact of the project had been reduced from 2,262,196 tonnes in 2018 to 1,617,421 tonnes in 2021 (28.5% reduction). It was intended to reduce this to around 1.1m tonnes through further efficiencies such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuels, material transported by rail and diesel free sites. Partnership working in innovation would also be important to decarbonise. In January 2022, HS2 Ltd had published its Net Zero Carbon Plan which intended to deliver net-zero construction and operation by 2035 with residual carbon being offset. Examples of the efficiency solutions and zero emission alternatives were highlighted which included hybrid excavators, electric crawler cranes and solar powered battery packs. The presentation concluded with a video of overhead drone footage along the route with accompanying commentary.

The Chairman invited comments from the Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport, and the Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change. The following points were made:-

·       A third of Phase One took place in Buckinghamshire and HS2 work on the project would be increasing. Costs for the Council were expected to increase to ensure contractor compliance and manage complaints from communities.

·       It was felt improvements were needed from HS2’s communications with the Council, an example being more advanced notice on the A413 conveyor. The Planning service was also under pressure to process applications which would be helped by HS2 Ltd engaging with the service sooner in the process to address queries and reduce the need to challenge on issues such as flooding, lighting and noise. The Deputy Cabinet Member also highlighted that more timely traffic information from HS2 would allow the Highways service more time to mitigate and plan for disruption.

·       Engagement with local communities on the design of structures in the AONB would be welcomed by the Council.

·       Monies expected from the pothole fund and road repair schemes had not been received with the example of the A40/A412 junction being given. 

·       It was requested that HS2 Ltd ensure contractor compliance on topics such as approval routes and vehicle signage.

·       Concerns were reiterated about the environmental impact of the project with quantified numbers requested. Some communities had reported not seeing the claimed biodiversity gains. Residents in Wendover had also expressed concerns over flooding with the responses thus far not deemed satisfactory.

Responses from the HS2 representatives included:-

·       The condition of the roads in Buckinghamshire had been surveyed prior to projects works. It was intended that roads would not be left in a worse condition than before work had commenced. HS2 Ltd wanted to work with the Council to mitigate the Highways impact to residents and would investigate the examples raised by the Cabinet Member.

ACTION: HS2 Ltd

·       Traffic was a concern during the planning phase and the consolidation centres aimed to reduce traffic. HS2 also ran shuttle buses for its staff to reduce car numbers.

·       HS2 Ltd were committed to communicating traffic forecasting as early as possible however it was challenging to forecast too far in advance. The Traffic Liaison Group met monthly to review arrangements; consideration would be given to increase this meeting frequency as this could potentially alleviate Highways pressure.

ACTION: HS2 Ltd

·       Biodiversity and tree planting would become more apparent near completion of the project as tree removal took place at the start.

·       It was acknowledged that flooding concerns in Wendover and Fairford Leys, Aylesbury, were sensitive and HS2 Ltd were in discussion with the Environment Agency (EA) regarding mitigation and was close to submitting its final plans. The Council would then be approached as the flooding authority. HS2 Ltd would consider what information could be shared with local Parishes and Members at this stage.

ACTION: HS2 Ltd

During the Select Committee discussion, the following points were noted:-

·       The local HS2 teams should be engaging on projects such as the Calvert Infrastructure Maintenance Depot (IMD) and further community engagement on IMD design would take place in May-June 2022. However, one Member noted there was no reference to a Schedule 17 major project: Calvert Infrastructure Maintenance Depot on HS2’s website. Updated information on the ‘In Your Area’ part of the HS2 website would be investigated. 

ACTION: HS2 Ltd

·       HS2 representatives would check where information, such as minutes, on the Independent Design Panel was held and circulate.

ACTION: HS2 Ltd

·       Preparatory work along the River Great Ouse was carried out under Schedule 33 with approval by the Environment Agency which had taken into account flooding, drainage and the creation of ponds. The Committee wanted assurance that the EA’s consents on flooding did date back to 2019. 

ACTION: HS2 Ltd

·       Tree surveys had been carried out along the route with woodlands having a different survey method. Types and size of trees were mapped to document where trees were removed. Detailed information on numbers of trees removed and/or replanted, maturity and carbon sequestration would be investigated and reported back to the Select Committee. The Chairman highlighted the importance of having this information supplied due to its importance to Buckinghamshire residents.

ACTION: HS2 Ltd

·       The 400,000 trees that had been planted were in habitat creation sites which differed to the main route. Further planting would take place in the season following the completion of route earthworks which could be 2026/27. Maintenance of the trees at each of the planted sites would either be through an Ecological Site Management Plan or a Landscape Maintenance Monitoring & Management Plan which would set out the timescales, maintenance and monitoring at each of the sites. Some land would be maintained by HS2 as part of mitigation whilst some would be passed back to landowners with legal maintenance agreements in place and funds available. Currently, no land had been handed back.

·       Removed trees were assessed on how the timber could be used and maximised in the harvest chain. Where appropriate, timber had been referred to the construction industry, artists and local organisations.

·       HS2 Ltd did monitor contractor compliance to ensure standards were being maintained as detailed in their agreements.

·       Traffic management was a key area for HS2 Ltd and a recent review of the A413 had brought about the potential for clearer signage and junction improvement works. It was acknowledged that the A418 was a critical route into the west of Aylesbury and that there had been disruption for residents. A temporary bridge for construction traffic that would cross over the A418 had been planned for late-summer 2022 to alleviate traffic pressure. Traffic management on the A418 during off-peak hours would continue until then.

·       On the A41, works on Station Road, Quainton, were expected to be completed in the next few weeks with traffic light tests taking place mid-March. The new, temporary roundabout at Fleet Marston had helped manage construction and public traffic flows.

·       Movement of materials by rail was important to HS2 Ltd as it relieved highway pressures and reduced carbon emissions, disruption, and cost. There had been successes of rail transport into the Calvert area and Stoke Mandeville. Further opportunities would be identified and considered.

·       HS2 Ltd was aware of the complex drainage system network at Fairford Leys. It would be ensured that works carried out and outflow would not impact the existing system. Details of this were not yet finalised with the Environment Agency.

·       There was a Collaboration Board that worked across all contracts, and forums had been created to share carbon ideas and innovations across the four contracts. A Project Directors meeting took place every two weeks where best practice and ideas were also shared.

·       Concern was expressed that the Woodland Fund was applicable to areas less disrupted by the HS2 works compared to Buckinghamshire.

The Chairman summarised the themes raised at the meeting and reiterated the impact and disruption the project was having on Buckinghamshire residents. The representatives from HS2 Ltd were thanked for their attendance and would be welcome to attend the Select Committee to update next year. The Chairman and Senior Scrutiny Officer would follow up on questions that could not be answered during the meeting.