HS2 Phase One planning forum: Highways Subgroup
The HS2 Phase One planning forum is the primary vehicle for liaison between the HS2 project and local authorities along the HS2 Phase One route.
The HS2 Phase One planning forum acts as the primary vehicle for liaison between the HS2 project and local authorities along the HS2 Phase One route between London and the West Midlands on matters of cross boundary and route-wide interest.
Invitees to the Highways Subgroup are representatives from the relevant local highways authorities, High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd and the Department for Transport.
The subgroup meets about every 6 weeks with a forward programme of meetings and anticipated agenda items produced and maintained.
Each subgroup meeting alternates between the ‘north’ and ‘south’ to reflect the distribution of highways authorities along the Phase One route. Currently meetings are generally held in Warwickshire and London. The meetings are recorded in minutes and the meeting papers distributed to members.
Matters addressed at the forum change and evolve to reflect the development stages of the project with the forum’s terms of reference updated accordingly.
The subgroup has an interim independent chairman, Ted Allett, who has over 30 years’ experience in the environment and planning industries.
During the passage of the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill through Parliament, the focus of the forum’s discussions is the proposed highways powers set out in the Bill and the associated documents, and in particular the environmental minimum requirements.