The Transport, Environment, Communities & Climate Change Select Committee of Buckinghamshire Council was scheduled to discuss the progress of the High Speed 2 (HS2) project and review the council's work programme for the upcoming year. The meeting also included an opportunity for public questions.

HS2 Progress Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the High Speed 2 (HS2) project, a significant national undertaking aiming to create a high-speed rail link between London and the West Midlands. The report pack detailed that approximately 60km of the railway, including 16km of tunnel, passes through Buckinghamshire. The High-Speed Rail Act 2017 grants deemed planning permission for this phase, with certain aspects of detailed design and construction requiring further approval from the council.

Key areas of discussion were expected to include the ongoing civils-related activities and associated temporary traffic arrangements, particularly in the north of the county. Significant progress had reportedly been made with the placement of the Wendover Dean and Small Dean Viaducts and the realignment of Station Road in Quainton. The report also noted that HS2 Ltd was resetting its programme to improve cost and delivery certainty, with a government response awaited. This reset was anticipated to involve a go-slower testing approach and address wider cost and delivery pressures.

The report highlighted that HS2 Ltd intended to prioritise civils works on a 50-mile stretch between Washwood Heath in Birmingham and the north portal of the Wendover Green Tunnel in Buckinghamshire, enabling phased testing of railway systems. This approach aims to avoid delays that could arise if testing waited for full route completion. The council's role in managing the impacts of HS2 development was also to be reviewed, encompassing both regulatory consenting and operational coordination.

Specific concerns raised in the report pack included the significant pressure HS2 construction activities place on Buckinghamshire's highway network, leading to road closures, temporary traffic lights, and increased traffic through villages. Damage to county roads from construction traffic, particularly on rural roads not designed for HGVs, was also a major concern. The report indicated that HS2 Ltd had agreed to extend the Pothole Fund for a sixth year, with the final payment due in 2027, though the council intended to press for further extensions due to programme delays. The HS2 Road Safety Fund (RSF) was also mentioned, with 18 new road safety schemes approved for delivery across the county.

In terms of environmental considerations, the council had continued to issue detailed consents for HS2 under Schedules 16 and 17 of the HS2 Act. The report pack indicated a busy period for planning consenting, with a peak of Schedule 17 applications expected. The council had also been involved in consenting revised applications for a Spring Chamber, which resulted in a significantly improved outcome from both a highways and landscape perspective. The report also detailed HS2's contributions to Buckinghamshire's Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy, including efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality through measures such as increased train deliveries, avoided lorry deliveries, and the use of alternative fuels like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and hydrogen fuel cell technology. Furthermore, HS2's contributions to the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Local Nature Recovery Strategy were outlined, including the creation of ecological mitigation sites, ponds, and the planting of trees.

The report also touched upon the HS2 interface with other national infrastructure projects, such as East West Rail (EWR), and the potential cumulative impacts of these developments. The HS2 programme reset was expected to see continued focus on the northern part of Buckinghamshire for civil engineering designs and construction, with the priority section seeing the first installation of railway systems.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review the work programme for the year 2025 to 2026 and consider items for the next council year. This would involve looking at the planned activities and priorities for the committee's future work.

Public Questions

The agenda included a slot for public questions, providing an opportunity for residents, workers, or students in Buckinghamshire to ask questions of the Select Committee. The Cabinet Member, relevant key partners, and responsible officers were expected to be invited to respond to these questions.