The Transport, Environment, Communities & Climate Change Select Committee of Buckinghamshire Council was scheduled to meet on Tuesday 21 April 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was an update on the High Speed 2 (HS2) project, including its progress, environmental impact, and community engagement efforts. The committee was also set to review its work programme for the upcoming year.

HS2 Progress and Impact

The committee was scheduled to receive a comprehensive update on the High Speed 2 (HS2) project, a major national undertaking 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, runs through Buckinghamshire. The High-Speed Rail Act 2017 grants deemed planning permission for this phase, but the council retains a statutory role in processing submissions and ensuring HS2 Ltd and its contractors comply with the Act and agreed consents.

Significant civil engineering activities were noted to have taken place over the past year, particularly in the north of the county, with progress made on structures like the Wendover Dean and Small Dean Viaducts. However, the report highlighted that HS2 Ltd is resetting its programme to improve certainty on cost and delivery, with a government response awaited. This reset has led to uncertainty regarding current dates, and the council has yet to receive a revised assured programme. A priority area has been established between Washwood Heath (Birmingham) and the north portal of the Wendover Green Tunnel (Buckinghamshire), which will see the first installation of railway systems to enable phased testing.

The report detailed the ongoing impacts of HS2 construction on Buckinghamshire's highway network, including road closures, temporary traffic lights, and increased traffic through villages due to lengthy diversions. Damage to county roads from construction traffic was identified as a significant concern, with rural roads and 'A' roads like the A41, A355, and A413 being affected. HS2 Ltd has agreed to extend the Pothole Fund for a sixth year, with the final payment due in 2027, though the council intends to press for further extensions due to programme delays. The council also continues to manage the Road Safety Fund (RSF), which has approved funding for 18 new road safety schemes across the county.

Environmental aspects of the HS2 project were also on the agenda. The council has been issuing detailed consents for the project under the HS2 Act, with a peak of Schedule 17 applications expected in the coming months. Notable consents included approvals for earthwork bunds north of Turweston and the Leather Lane Realignment. The report also mentioned the ongoing process of site restoration schemes and the council's engagement with HS2 Ltd on Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) applications, including a revised scheme for a Spring Chamber that addressed community concerns.

The report also touched upon the new burdens placed on the council by HS2, referring to highway assets that will transfer to the council. The council is seeking formal confirmation from the Department for Transport (DfT) regarding the scope, cost assessment, and financial settlement for these liabilities. Furthermore, the Environmental Mitigation Fund (EMF) for specific parishes has been broadened in scope and extended to March 2030.

The interface between HS2 and other national infrastructure projects, such as East West Rail (EWR), was also to be discussed. While there is currently no active interface with HS2 in Buckinghamshire, future stages of EWR may have an impact, and the council is awaiting further details to understand the implications. The potential cumulative impacts of EWR Phase 3, in combination with HS2 and other major developments like the Rosefield Solar Farm and the Grendon Underwood prison, were to be considered.

Community and stakeholder engagement efforts by HS2 were also to be reviewed, with figures presented on community meetings, webinars, site visits, and newsletters. The report highlighted the allocation of funds from HS2's Community & Environment Fund (CEF) and Business & Local Economy Fund (BLEF), with over £5 million awarded in Buckinghamshire to date for local projects.

Work Programme Review

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme for the year 2025 to 2026. This would involve considering items for the next council year and ensuring the committee's agenda aligns with key council priorities across transport, environment, communities, and climate change.

Date of Next Meeting

The dates for the committee meetings for the next council year were to be confirmed at the Annual Council Meeting on 20 May 2026.