Posts Tagged ‘National’

Minister’s Hogan and O’Sullivan & Minster’s Varadkar and Kelly Jointly Publish Statutory Guidelines on Spatial Planning and National Roads

Posted by admin on February 1st, 2012



Minister’s Hogan and O’Sullivan & Minster’s Varadkar and Kelly Jointly Publish Statutory Guidelines on Spatial Planning and National Roads

31/01/12

 -Guidelines Will Help Job Creation and Economic Development-

Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister of Environment, Community and Local Government, Ms. Jan O’Sullivan, T.D., Minister for Housing and Planning, together with Mr. Leo Varadkar, T.D., Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Public and Commuter Transport today (31 January 2012) jointly published statutory planning guidelines for local authorities on Spatial Planning and National Roads.

The Guidelines are aimed at ensuring that local authorities, in their planning and transport roles work proactively with the National Roads Authority ensuring that transport and land use planning considerations are taken into account at the early stages of both development plan and development management processes.  This is to ensure that future development  in the vicinity of national roads is guided to the most suitable location and that development on the national roads network is planned for and managed in a complementary and integrated manner.

The guidelines set out a clear national policy framework that local authorities will use in guiding development essential to Ireland’s economic recovery to the most appropriate locations. This type of joined-up thinking is essential to the Government’s  core objective of creating jobs. At the same time we must protect the  major investment in national roads in recent years by facilitating reasonable development proposals that meet road design and safety criteria and that otherwise accord with proper planning and sustainable development.

Minister Hogan highlighted that, “There is a strong inter-relationship between transport and planning policies. The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure these closely linked policies ensure that a plan-led and transport aware approach is adopted from the outset.

We are determined that the planning process will offer clear guidance and certainty to investors as to the most appropriate locations for future development. We will ensure that the national roads network, its performance and development requirements into the future are taken into account at the early stages and throughout the development planning process. Job creation must be at the heart of everything we do and how we do things  and I’m satisfied that these guidelines will also  ensure that there are no unnecessary barriers in the planning process to job creation.”

The Minister added that “improved transport infrastructure between cities, towns and rural areas enables planning authorities to particularly refocus on the importance of city and town centres and other strategic locations identified in the National Spatial Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines and plans at local level and in a plan-led manner in overall terms.”

Minister O’Sullivan further emphasised that, “The key message of these guidelines is to encourage a collaborative approach between planning authorities and the National Roads Authority with the aim of ensuring that our national roads network is planned for and managed in an integrated manner enabling economic development of Ireland while encouraging a shift towards more sustainable forms of travel and transport.”

The guidelines highlight the need for early engagement and dialogue between the NRA and planning authorities in respect of devising appropriate policies and objectives for managing development within the broader context of the national road network and functions.

Minister Varadkar pointed out that “Ireland now has the benefit of a high-quality national roads network, but we need to ensure that we make the most of this network for many years to come. These new guidelines will copper-fasten close co-operation between the NRA and the planning authorities in the future, while subjecting new development proposals to road safety audits and other important transport policy considerations.”

Minister of State Kelly added “The aim of these guidelines is to facilitate a well-informed, integrated and consistent approach that affords maximum support for the goal of achieving and maintaining a safe and efficient network of national roads in the broader context of promoting more sustainable travel and transport generally, thereby facilitating continued economic growth and development throughout the country.”

Minister O’Sullivan outlined that “Implementation of these guidelines by planning authorities, the National Transport Authority, the National Roads Authority and An Bord Pleanála will ensure that the State’s considerable investment in national roads is harnessed in a manner that is sustainable in economic, social and environmental terms”.
These guidelines will primarily apply to the national roads network and set out policy with regard to planning considerations relating to development affecting national roads outside the 50-kph speed limit zones for cities, towns and villages. 

The guidelines are being issued by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), thereby underpinned by statute.  Planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála area required to have regard to the guidelines in carrying out their functions under the Planning Acts.

ENDS

Press and Information Office
Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct)
(01) 888 2000
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.environ.ie

Note to Editors
These statutory planning guidelines will replace the Policy and Planning Framework for Roads, published by the then Department of the Environment and Local Government in 1985, and the NRA policy statement on national roads published in May 2006, as well as, supplementing other planning policy guidance e.g. sustainable rural housing etc.
There have been various Government statements on planning policy and national roads over the past number of years, going back to the Development Control Advice and Guidelines issued in 1982 and the more comprehensive statement in 1985, Policy and Planning Framework for Roads, by the then Department of the Environment.  Policy statements made since then have been broadly based on the 1985 document.  While specific responsibility for roads policy now rests with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, and his Department, responsibility for planning policy rests with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and these guidelines provide for continued and consistent alignment between these closely linked policies.
The key principles (Section 1.5 refers) which have guided the development of these guidelines are that::
• Land-use and transportation policies are highly interdependent
• Proper planning is central to ensuring road safety
• Development should be plan-led
• Development Management is the key to Plan Implementation
• Planning Authorities and the National Roads Authority and other public transport bodies must work closely together

Back


Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
Environ.ie News Feed

Read More »

Shawnee National Forest Plan Would Trade Away Endangered Bat Habitat for Strip Mining

Posted by admin on January 31st, 2012

HARRISBURG, Ill.— Conservation groups submitted comments Monday opposing a proposal by the Forest Service to trade away a parcel of the Shawnee National Forest that is home to two kinds of endangered bats to a subsidiary of Peabody Energy Company. The company intends to strip-mine the parcel for coal. The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club oppose the land swap, which would put nearly 400 acres of wooded river bottom and upland forest along southern Illinois’ Saline River into the ownership of American Land Holdings, in trade for three other privately owned tracts within the national forest boundary. 


The groups also filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Forest Service Monday for failing to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the land exchange and other actions affected by the Shawnee Forest Plan do not illegally hurt endangered species.


“Swapping away the homes of endangered bats so that a coal company can strip mine them is unconscionable,” said Mollie Matteson, a bat specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Just two weeks ago, the federal government issued the staggering news that nearly 7 million bats have died over just the past few years from white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has been spreading across the country like wildfire, wiping out bats from Nova Scotia to Tennessee. Now the Forest Service proposes to intentionally put bats in harm’s way?”


Last summer biologists documented an active colony of endangered Indiana bats roosting in a tree on the national forest property. The biologists also found endangered gray bats foraging for insects. Despite the presence of these two species of endangered bats, the Forest Service wants to give away these public lands to be strip-mined for coal.


The Indiana bat has been devastated by white-nose syndrome in the northeastern United States, declining by more than 70 percent in that region since 2006. The disease was discovered for the first time in Indiana and Kentucky last winter, and scientists believe it will soon be documented in Illinois as well. The core range of the Indiana bat lies within Indiana and neighboring states; the disease could prove catastrophic for the species. White-nose has not yet infected gray bats, which live primarily in the Midwest and South, but biologists believe they may be susceptible to the malady too.


Said Jim Bensman, chair of the Sierra Club’s Shawnee National Forest Committee: “The Forest Service has a legal obligation to make protection of endangered species a top priority. When the agency found out last summer there were Indiana bats and gray bats on the land, its first move should have been to safeguard that habitat, not move forward with a plan with Peabody to have it strip-mined.”


For more information on the Center’s work to save bats from white-nose syndrome, please visit: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/bat_crisis_white-nose_syndrome/index.html

Contact Info: Mollie Matteson, (802) 318-1487

Website : Center for Biological Diversity

Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
ENN Network News – ENN

Read More »

Natural England: National Park expansion proposals – The next steps

Posted by admin on January 30th, 2012


30 January 2012

In September 2011, Natural England’s Board confirmed that it would be recommending extensions to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park boundaries: the relevant Variation Orders to extend the Park boundaries, maps and boundary descriptions will shortly be presented to the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs for her consideration.

These documents are also being made available for public inspection today and between now and 16 March 2012 there is a formal opportunity for everyone to provide comments to Defra on the proposals.

David Vose, Natural England’s manager for the Lakes to Dales project said; “After two public consultations and formal agreement by our Board, the proposals to extend the two National Parks will shortly be submitted to the Secretary of State.  In the next six weeks, people can send their views to Defra about whether they support the proposals or not, whether there are amendments that they would like to suggest.”

Having considered all the responses, the Secretary of State will decide whether to confirm the Variation Orders or whether to make modifications to the proposed boundaries.  Any changes to the National Park  boundaries will only take effect once they have received confirmation from the Secretary of State.

In the Yorkshire Dales National Park the recommended changes relate to an area of approximately 418 square kilometres in Cumbria and Lancashire, in and around

  • The northern Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell, Mallerstang and part of the Orton Fells (all in Eden District)

  • Middleton, Barbon, Casterton and Leck Fells, part of Firbank Fell, part of the Lune Valley and fells to the west (in the Districts of South Lakeland and Lancaster City)

In the Lake District National Park the recommended changes relate to an area of approximately 70 square kilometres in the Cumbria, in and around

  • Birkbeck Fells Common, Bretherdale, Borrowdale, Whinfell, Grayrigg and Dillicar Commons and adjacent land (in Eden District and South Lakeland District) and

  • Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell and part of the Lyth Valley and land to the North of Sizergh (in South Lakeland District)

The documents describing these proposals can be viewed online and at 18 locations in and around the project area until 16 March 2012.  Please visit www.naturalengland.org.uk/lakestodales, email [email protected] or phone 0300 0602178 for more information. 

Until 16 March 2012 there will be an opportunity for anyone wishing to make an objection or representation to the Orders to sent these  in writing to:

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs,


Protected Landscapes Team,


Zone 1/09, Temple Quay House,


2 The Square,


Temple Quay,


Bristol


BS1 6EB 

[email protected]


Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
info4local Subject Documents

Read More »

Obama’s Forest Service Weakens National Forest Wildlife Protections

Posted by admin on January 27th, 2012

WASHINGTON— The U.S. Forest Service released a new proposal Thursday for the nation’s 193-million-acre national forest system that will weaken rules protecting fish and wildlife from logging, livestock grazing, mining and off-road vehicles. The new proposal, which was released as part of the final environmental impact statement for the rule, is the Forest Service’s fourth attempt since 2000 to revise nationwide regulations governing national forests. All three previous attempts were challenged in court by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, and all three prior attempts were found unlawful. Like the 2000, 2005 and 2008 rules, the Obama administration’s planning rule would decrease longstanding protections for wildlife on national forests.


“This rule is a step up from the Bush rule, but its protections are still a far cry from Reagan-era regulations that the Forest Service has been trying to weaken for 12 years,” said Taylor McKinnon, public lands campaigns director at the Center. “Our publicly owned national forests should be a safe haven for wildlife. In the face of unprecedented global climate change and other threats to species, the Forest Service should be trying to strengthen, not weaken, protections for wildlife on our public lands.”


Congress enacted the National Forest Management Act in 1976 to guide management of the national forest system, which consists of 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands. In 1982, the Forest Service adopted national regulations to provide specific direction for activities such as logging, mining, livestock grazing and recreation. That rule included strong, mandatory protections for fish and wildlife, requiring the Forest Service to monitor and maintain viable populations.


The Clinton administration in 2000, and the Bush administration in 2005 and 2008, issued new rules to revise the 1982 regulation. Each of these efforts was found unlawful and were not implemented.  The Obama administration is again trying to weaken the long-standing 1982 regulations by requiring that the Forest Service only maintain viable populations for species “of conservation concern,” and only at the discretion of local Forest Supervisors. 

Like the Bush rules that were defeated, the new Obama rule would also not apply to the thousands of site-specific projects and activities that the Forest Service approves each year; rather it would only apply to forest plan amendments and revisions. And, like earlier attempts, the new rule seeks to replace the longstanding administrative appeal process with less formal pre-decisional objections.

According to the Forest Service, a notice of availability for the final environmental impact statement will be published in the Federal Register on Feb. 3 with a record of decision selecting the final planning rule not less than 30 days thereafter.

Contact Info: Taylor McKinnon (928) 310-6713

Website : Center for Biological Diversity

Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
ENN Network News – ENN

Read More »

New York City Student Helps EPA Educate the Public on Dangers of Radon; Wins National Radon Poster Contest (NY)

Posted by admin on January 25th, 2012

 

Release Date: 01/25/2012
Contact Information: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, [email protected]

(New York, N.Y. ) What is odorless, colorless and could be a serious health problem that may be right in your home? A LaGuardia high school student, NYC public school, Laura Dabalsa knows the answer is radon. Laura used her knowledge about this important public health issue to create an educational poster that took top honors in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Kansas State University’s national Radon Poster Contest. Laura’s poster, which was submitted when she was a student at the Booker T. Washington School, will be featured nationally as part of an ongoing campaign to promote home testing for radon.

Radon is a naturally-occurring gas that can seep into people’s homes through cracks in building foundations. Although testing for radon is easy and inexpensive, only one in five homeowners has actually tested his or her home for radon. Over 20,000 people die from lung cancer caused by exposure to radon; it is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths in non-smokers.

“We are very proud that the winner of this year’s EPA national Radon Poster Contest is an inspiring student artists from New York City,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “Laura Dabalsa’s striking artwork illustrates the dangers of radon. The poster she created should encourage more people to test for the gas and take the simple steps needed to protect their health.”

Many areas of New York and New Jersey are at high risk for radon due to their geology, but any home can have a radon problem. Forty-one counties in New York State and seven in New Jersey are considered at high risk for elevated levels of radon, but moderate levels have been found throughout both states. That is why the EPA, the U.S. Surgeon General and the state of New Jersey recommend that all homeowners test for radon.

Radon can build up to unhealthy levels, especially during colder months when windows and doors are kept closed. Test kits are available in many local hardware stores, from some local health departments and the NYS Department of Health Radon Program, tel. 800-458-1158 . The NJ radon program number is 800-648-0394. If a test shows that there is a radon problem, the homeowner should contact his or her state radon office for advice on how to fix it. Most solutions are simple and relatively inexpensive. There are several proven methods to reduce radon in your home, but the one primarily used is a vent pipe system and fan, which pulls radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside. This system does not require major changes to your home. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.

New York residents can obtain more information and download an application for a low-cost test kit at http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/radiological/radon/radon.htm

New Jersey residents can obtain more information at http://www.njradon.org

To view the winning poster click on this link: http://sosradon.org/files/sosradon/poster-contest/2012-winners/NY-1st-fix.jpg

For more information about Radon Action Month: http://www.epa.gov/radon/rnactionmonth.html

      To download print, video or audio versions of free EPA Public Service Announcements, http://www.epapsa.com

      12-013

Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
U.S. EPA News

Read More »

Global Science & Technology Hires Dr. DeWayne Cecil as Program Manager of Climate Data Records Program at National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC

Posted by admin on January 23rd, 2012

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

GREENBELT, MD–(Marketwire – Jan 23, 2012) – Global Science & Technology, Inc. (GST) is proud to announce the hiring of Dr. DeWayne Cecil as the firm’s program manager of the Climate Data Records (CDR) Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) located in Asheville, NC.
Marketwire – Environment

Read More »

National Public Gardens Day to Celebrate America’s Diverse Public Gardens — May 11, 2012

Posted by admin on January 23rd, 2012

AZUSA, Calif.–()–The fourth annual National
Public Gardens Day, scheduled for May 11, 2012, is a national
day of celebration that invites communities to explore the beauty of
their local green spaces while raising awareness of the important role
public gardens play in promoting conservation, education and
environmental preservation. Annually scheduled on the Friday preceding
Mother’s Day weekend, schools, families, garden enthusiasts and visitors
are invited to visit public gardens in their local community for
special events and activities.

“National Public Gardens Day wonderfully supports our
company’s Intelligent Use of Water philosophy because public gardens are
living evidence that green spaces can entertain, educate and inspire us
while positively contributing to the environment and conserving the
world’s most precious resource.”

A partnership between the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and
irrigation product and service provider, Rain Bird, the 2012 National
Public Gardens Day will showcase the contributions of public gardens
with special events at many of the more than 500 North American public
gardens.

“Public gardens are indispensable — they provide places to recreate,
learn about the environment and observe the beauty of nature,” said
Casey Sclar, Interim Executive Director of the American Public Gardens
Association. “There is a common commitment of North American public
gardens to engage and contribute to their communities, and to educate
everyone about the importance of plant, soil and water conservation
practices.”

National Public Gardens Day is supported by a national awareness
campaign that includes broadcast public service announcements, media
partnerships, local and national spokespeople, online contests and media
tours all focused on communicating the importance of building sustainable
environments through improved plant management and water
conservation, education and community engagement.

“As a presenting partner and co-founder of National Public Gardens Day,
Rain Bird is committed to increasing awareness of how important public
gardens are in demonstrating water conservation both locally and
nationally,” said Dave Johnson, Rain Bird’s director of corporate
marketing. “National Public Gardens Day wonderfully supports our
company’s Intelligent Use of Water philosophy because public gardens are
living evidence that green spaces can entertain, educate and inspire us
while positively contributing to the environment and conserving the
world’s most precious resource.”

In celebration of botanical gardens, arboreta, conservatories,
educational gardens and historical landscapes, many of the APGA’s 500
member institutions will mark the day with special events and activities
for schools, families, garden enthusiasts and other visitors. Many of
the activities will continue through Mother’s Day weekend,
offering visitors time to enjoy the beauty of the gardens while learning
about each garden’s commitment to education, research and environmental
stewardship.

For more information on National Public Gardens Day, visit www.NationalPublicGardensDay.org,
“LIKE” the National Public Gardens Day Facebook
page and follow the National Public Gardens Day Twitter feed, @NPGD.

ABOUT RAIN BIRD

Headquartered in Azusa, Calif., Rain Bird Corporation is the world’s
leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services.
From simple beginnings in 1933, Rain Bird now offers the industry’s
broadest range of irrigation products for farms, golf courses, sports
arenas, commercial developments and homes, available in more than 130
countries. Rain Bird has been awarded hundreds of patents, including the
first in 1935 for the impact sprinkler. Rain Bird’s philosophy called
The Intelligent Use of Water ® is about using water wisely. Its
commitment extends beyond products to education, training and services
for the industry and the community. Rain Bird maintains state-of-the-art
manufacturing facilities around the world. www.rainbird.com.

ABOUT APGA

Founded in 1940, Pennsylvania-based American Public Gardens Association
is an organization devoted to strengthening the public gardens
throughout North America. With over 70 years of work increasing
cooperation and awareness among the gardens, APGA has built a membership
of more than 500 public gardens located in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Canada and seven other countries. Their members include
public gardens as well as arboreta and zoos. APGA has also built up an
international network of individual members in the U.S., Canada and 24
other countries. The APGA is committed to increasing public awareness of
public gardens, and to advancing public gardens as a force for positive
change in their communities through leadership, advocacy and innovation. http://www.publicgardens.org

Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
Business Wire Environment News

Read More »

National Council for Science and the Environment Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland Dr. Brundtland Honored for Decades of Leadership in Science, Policy and the Environment

Posted by admin on January 20th, 2012

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Washington, DC (January 20, 2012) – The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) yesterday honored Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland with the NCSE Lifetime Achievement Award during the 12th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment being held here this week.
ENN Network News – ENN

Read More »

Bird-watching Outings at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area

Posted by admin on January 16th, 2012

Bird-watching Outings at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area. QUÉBEC, Que. — January 5, 2012 — Every weekend from January 7 to March 11, and during the spring break from March 5 to 9, you can discover Environment Canada’s Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, a site dedicated to biodiversity conservation.
News Releases

Read More »

Britain to have new national high speed rail network

Posted by admin on January 10th, 2012

HS2 will be a Y-shaped rail network with stations in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and the East Midlands linked by high speed trains conveying up to 26,000 people each hour at speeds of up to 250mph.

High speed trains will also connect seamlessly with the existing West Coast and East Coast main lines to serve passengers beyond the HS2 network in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Durham, York, Darlington, Liverpool, Preston, Wigan and Lancaster.

It will be built in two phases. The first will see construction of a new 140 mile line between London and Birmingham by 2026, the detailed route of which is published today. The second phase will see lines built from Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester by 2033. A formal consultation on second phase routes will begin in early 2014 with a final route chosen by the end of 2014.

The first phase of HS2 will include a connection to Europe via the Channel Tunnel. On completion of HS2 the network will include a direct link to Heathrow Airport.

Key points:

  • HS2 will increase dramatically passenger capacity along the key transport corridors of Britain with up to 26,000 extra passenger seats running each hour that will relieve congestion on existing intercity routes as well as roads and air routes.
  • HS2 will mean very substantial time savings between Britain’s cities, reducing a Birmingham to Leeds journey from 2 hours to just 57 minutes and a Manchester to London journey from 2 hours 8 minutes to only 1 hour 8 minutes. Birmingham to London journeys will be almost halved from 1 hour 24 minutes to 45 minutes, 4 minutes less than the fastest 49 minute service featured in the consultation.
  • Even cities and towns off the HS2 network – like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Preston, Wigan, Lancaster, Newcastle, Darlington, York and Durham – will be served by high speed trains able to use both HS2 and existing intercity lines seamlessly to save up to an hour on journeys to London. HS2 will effectively act as a rail “motorway” network offering greater capacity and speed while not restricting train services to stations on the HS2 network.
  • There are no credible alternatives to a new railway line. Network Rail has judged that alternative packages of rail upgrades and improvement on existing lines are no substitute to the long-term and sustainable capacity increase that HS2 provides.
  • A high speed line will deliver £6.2bn more of economic benefits than a line running at conventional speed – and around £3.5 more revenues – at a cost of only £3bn more than building a conventional speed equivalent. HS2 will cost a total of £32.7bn.
  • The benefit cost ratio (including wider economic benefits) for HS2 is £1.80-2.50 benefits for every £1 spent on the cost of the project. The BCR has been revised downwards slightly due to the current economic climate but remains convincing.
  • A commitment to reducing the effects of HS2 will see 79 miles of the 140-mile line between London and Birmingham running in tunnels or cuttings. The 22.5 miles in tunnel announced today is a 55% increase in the amount of tunnelling in the consultation route.
  • HS2 runs through 13 miles of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) but fresh mitigation measures announced today mean that less than two miles will be at or above surface level.
  • HS2 will benefit rail, road and air users. It will free up capacity on existing rail routes for more commuter, regional and freight services. It will take an estimated 9m journeys off the road network and cut up to 4.5m air journeys each year.
  • HS2 trains will be up to 400 metres long with 1,100 seats, travelling at speeds of up to 250mph. Double decker trains could be introduced to run on the HS2 network and would be compatible with HS1 and the Channel Tunnel. Services using HS2 and existing rail lines will use standard-size non-double decker high speed trains.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said:

“A new high speed rail network will provide Britain with the additional train seats, connections and speed to stay ahead of the congestion challenge and help create jobs, growth and prosperity for the entire country.

“HS2 will link some of our greatest cities – and high speed trains will connect with our existing railway lines to provide seamless journeys to destinations far beyond it. This is a truly British network that will serve far more than the cities directly on the line.

“HS2 will deliver up to 26,000 more seats for rail passengers each hour and journey times slashed by as much as half. By attracting passengers off existing rail lines, roads and domestic air services, its benefits will be felt far beyond the network. No amount of tinkering with our Victorian rail infrastructure will deliver this leap in capacity.

“It is not a decision that I have taken lightly or without great consideration of the impact on those who are affected by the route from London to Birmingham. I took more time to make this decision in order to find additional mitigation which now means more than half the entire 140-mile line will be out of sight in tunnels or cuttings. I am certain this strikes the right balance between the reasonable concerns of people living on or near the line, who will be offered a generous compensation package, and the need to keep Britain moving.

“More than a century ago the Victorians built railways that continue to serve us to this day and just over 50 years ago the post-war generation chose to invest in motorways, bringing higher road capacity and faster journeys to millions. Both transformed the economic and social fabric of this country: HS2 is our generation’s investment in Britain and our children.”

Confirmation that the new network will be built follows one of the largest public consultation exercises ever undertaken, which set out both a high level plan for a complete network and a detailed route for a first phase from London to Birmingham. Today, Transport Secretary Justine Greening has unveiled a package of alterations to the proposed London to Birmingham route to help ensure the lowest possible impacts on local communities and the environment. These include:

  • A longer, continuous tunnel from Little Missenden to the M25 through the Chilterns
  • A new 2.75 mile (4.4 km) bored tunnel along the Northolt Corridor to avoid major works to the Chilterns Line and impacts on local communities in the Ruislip area.
  • A longer green tunnel past Chipping Warden and Aston Le Walls, and to curve the route to avoid a cluster of important heritage sites around Edgcote
  • A longer green tunnel to reduce impacts around Wendover, and an extension to the green tunnel at South Heath.

The net result of the changes means that:

  • around 22.5 miles of the route will be completely enclosed in tunnel or green tunnel – compared to 14.5 miles for the consultation route;
  • around 56.5 miles will be in cutting – significantly reducing the visual and noise impact of the line;
  • around 40 miles will be on viaduct or embankment – around 10 miles less than the consultation route.

There will be significant improvements for those living near the route, specifically:

  • Fewer than five properties will experience high levels of noise
  • Only 60 dwellings will experience noise levels sufficiently high to qualify for statutory noise insulation, compared to 150 for the consultation route – a reduction of over 50%
  • The number of properties that would experience a noticeable increase in noise would be reduced by a third, from 4,700 to around 3,100
  • There will be four fewer residential demolitions than the route that went for consultation and there would be far fewer dwellings at risk of land take – reducing from 342 to 172

The network will be built in two phases with the line from London to Birmingham expected to open in 2026 with the onward legs to Manchester and Leeds opening in 2032-33. The Government estimates the cost of the complete ‘Y’ shaped network at £32bn and expects it to generate benefits of £47bn and fare revenues of up to £34 billion over a 60-year period.

The Department is writing to all those whose homes may be affected by the new railway and has today also announced a new package of measures to help those affected by the scheme. These include:

  • The introduction of a streamlined purchase scheme to simplify the statutory blight process for property owners
  • A sale and rent back scheme to give homeowners in the safeguarded areas more flexibility
  • The introduction of a streamlined small claims scheme for construction damage which will allow individuals and businesses who are entitled to compensation under existing law to claim it more quickly and simply
  • A Package of measures to reinforce confidence in properties above tunnels
  • A refreshed hardship scheme


Notes to editors

Economic Case

1. The cost of constructing a Y shaped network linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, as well as the Channel Tunnel and Heathrow, is estimated to be £32 billion.

2. Over a 60-year period, HS2 Ltd’s analysis estimates that a national high speed rail network would generate benefits with a net present value of up to £47-59 billion. The net present cost to Government over the same period of building and operating the line would be £24-26 billion.

3. On this basis, the Government’s assessment is that the proposed network would have a benefit cost ratio of between 1.8 and 2.5.

The Government’s proposed route

4. The Government’s proposed network would be built in phases. Phase 1 will comprise an initial London-Birmingham line including a direct link to High Speed One (HS1). This will run from a rebuilt Euston station to a new Birmingham City Centre station at Curzon Street. A Crossrail interchange station will be built at Old Oak Common in West London, providing direct connections to: the West End, City and Docklands via Crossrail; to the South West and Wales via the Great Western Main line; and to Heathrow via the Heathrow Express.

5. A second interchange station will be constructed where the line of route passes the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Birmingham Airport close to Junction 6 of the M42. It will offer direct links to Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre and the M6 and M42. A direct link to HS1 will be provided in tunnel from Old Oak Common to the existing North London Line, from where existing infrastructure can be used to reach the HS1 line north of St Pancras.

6. Phase 2 will see the new high speed line running on to Manchester and separately to Leeds. HS2 Ltd is currently engaged in detailed planning work for options for these routes, including stations in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, as well as for a spur link to Heathrow. Connections onto the existing West and East Coast main lines will also be included, allowing direct high speed train services to be operated to cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Preston, Lancaster, York, Durham and Darlington. Further consideration will also be given to extending the network subsequently to these and other major destinations.


Press Enquiries: 020 7944 3108
Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292
Public Enquiries: 0300 330 3000
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
www.twitter.com/transportgovuk | www.youtube.com/transportgovuk | www.flickr.com/transportgovuk

Full content generated by Get Full RSS.
Department for Transport

Read More »
« Older Entries