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Over the past few months, we have introduced a number of improvements to the HS2 website and how we share information with you. As part of this work, we have now moved the contents of the HS2 in Staffordshire website to the In your area section of the HS2 website.

We will continue to provide local webpages and publish information about the progress of the railway in your area.

We have also published local community landing pages for each section of the route. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area.

We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from us and haven't already registered, please sign up directly at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it. Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

We will no longer use this platform or Commonplace to publish information or issue emails to you. This website has now been archived. You can still access the materials that were originally available on this website by visiting the HS2 in Staffordshire overview page .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We have published local community landing pages for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area. Over the coming weeks we will be adding further pages and information to each area.

We are now in the final stages of this transition which is expected to be completed by mid-August, however we will write to you again to confirm this nearer the time.

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To find out more please visit: https://hs2funds.org.uk/hs2-funds-phase-2a/

Our HS2 In Focus: Environment - Phase 2a Biodiversity Investment Fund webinar is also available on Youtube:; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uneCeFuWTa0

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Registration for these slots will close 24 hours before the start of the meeting to allow us to send you dial in details ahead of your appointment.

Further information can be found on the Community Engagement section of www.HS2inStaffordshire.co.uk

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For more information about HS2’s roadshow programme, visit hs2.org.uk/roadshow-2021

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

There are local community landing pages which have been published for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe, providing information about the HS2 route within each area. We will be adding further pages and information to each area in the coming weeks.

We are now in the final stages of this transition which is expected to be completed by mid-August, however, we will write to you again to confirm this nearer the time.

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To mark the Council for British Archaeology's Festival of Archaeology , we are holding a series of free online events so you can get involved and find out more about what treasures are being unearthed as we build the country's new high speed railway. The Festival of Archaeology runs from July 17 - August 1, shining a light on our past and how our ancestors lived.

Subjects we will be covering in the free online 'webinars' include:

We will also be holding our fourth weekend of open days at our Field Museum at St Mary's Church in Stoke Mandeville on Saturday 24 July and Sunday 25 July.

Inside a specially constructed tent the size of a football pitch, archaeologists working on our behalf are currently excavating the remains of the former parish church of St. Mary the Virgin. This is a once in a generation opportunity to excavate the ruins of a medieval church and churchyard. Inside the museum you can ascend the viewing platform for a bird’s eye view of ongoing excavations, as well as displays, films and finds to explore the history of St. Mary’s Church and the amazing archaeological discoveries in the surrounding area.

We’d love to welcome you onto site to explore this fascinating excavation, where you can learn about life and death in Stoke Mandeville over more than 800 years.

Tickets are available to book from 10am on Tuesday July 13 and booking will close at 5pm on Thursday July 22 .

Detailed joining instructions including our Health and Safety statement will be sent to all registered attendees closer to the time.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel.

This is the fourth in a series of webinars focussing on Building HS2’s West Midlands Stations. The next webinar will be held in early autumn. Please keep

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We are also holding a number of virtual one to one meetings on Wednesday 21 July and Thursday 22 July between 10am and 5pm . These are for those already in the process of developing their applications for Funding and would like specific support or guidance from Groundwork UK.

Further joining instructions will be sent to all registered attendees closer to the time.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We have published local community landing pages for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area. Over the coming weeks we will be adding further pages and information to each area.

We are aiming to complete this exercise next month (July) and will write to you again to confirm this nearer the time.

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

On registering you can select the key topics you wish to discuss alongside any specific questions you would like to raise.

Further joining instructions will be sent to all registered attendees closer to the time.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Further joining instructions will be sent to all registered attendees closer to the time.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We have published local community landing pages for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area. Over the coming weeks we will be adding further pages and information to each area.

We are aiming to complete this exercise in July this year and will write to you to confirm this closer to the time.

We’re asking you to sign up for notifications to continue to receive updates from HS2

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We have published local community landing pages for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area. Over the coming weeks we will be adding further pages and information to each area.

Once we have moved all of the key pages and information from this website onto the HS2 website later this summer, we will stop updating this website. Visitors to this website will be signposted to the new pages within HS2.org.uk

At this point, we will stop publishing updates to this website and you will no longer receive email notifications from this website.

We are aiming to complete this exercise in July this year and will write to you to confirm this closer to the time.

In addition to moving the local website we are also taking this opportunity to improve our mailing lists and create greater flexibility around how you receive information from us.

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

Once we have moved across all of the pages and information from this website over to the HS2 website we will stop issuing emails from this website. Instead, you will receive emails directly from us about the parts of the project that you’ve expressed an interest in.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe on our Personal information charter .

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

A crew of 17 people will operate each TBM, working in shifts to keep the machines running 24/7. They will be supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation. Chalk excavated from the tunnels will be used for landscaping at the south portal site once construction is complete, creating wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats across 127 hectares of the southern Chiltern hills. Find out more about HS2's tunnelling programme .

Named after nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale – a name suggested by local children due to her residence at nearby Claydon House in Buckinghamshire, and chosen in a public vote – the TBM will dig the first of a pair of 10 mile long tunnels under the Chiltern hills and help to safeguard the woodland and wildlife habitats above ground, before emerging near Hyde Heath. A second machine ‘Cecilia’ will launch next month to excavate the second tunnel at the South Portal site.

Built by Herrenknecht, a world leader in TBM manufacturing, at its factory in south-west Germany, the two 170m long machines were transported to the UK in more than 300 separate shipments last year , before being reassembled, tested and commissioned by an expert team of tunnelling engineers at the Chiltern tunnel south portal site, near the M25 to the north-west of London.

The first two TBMs will be operated by main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. Align is recruiting 1,200 personnel in total, including 100 apprentices, to work on this area of the project and are targeting their recruitment and investment in upskilling local people who are currently unemployed, with a particular focus on women, the under 25s and those with disabilities, helping us support the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create employment during the COVID-19 crisis.

More than 16,000 jobs and over 500 apprenticeships are already being supported by the project, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.

The names of the two TBMs were suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon and The Chalfonts Community College, Buckinghamshire, which are close to the tunnel launch site. They were inspired by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern medicine, and pioneering astronomer and astrophysicist, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin.

Some facts and figures about the Chiltern tunnel TBMs :

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

The fresh look of the educational resources follows on from the introduction earlier this year of a suite of curriculum-linked projects designed to help teachers and parents home schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic when we were unable to deliver our regular programme of STEM workshops and schools were less able to take students 'off-curriculum' for career-themed activities during lockdown.

Created by our Skills, Employment and Education team, the resource pages include plans for STEM lessons which teachers can use to introduce a careers context to regular curriculum lessons. Activities take around 1-2 hours to complete and include using maths skills to work out how to construct a bridge across a motorway, researching the ecology of great created newts to create new habitats and using archaeological information to interpret the history of a site. Pupils also have the opportunity to design a new product to improve the customer experience when travelling by train and use their science skills to create an environmental improvement plan for their school.

We have also included a delivery guide for teachers who would like to run a STEM inspiration day in their school. This includes videos, teacher notes, presentations and worksheets for activities where students can develop their skills through hands-on and team build challenges to inspire them to become EPIC (Extraordinary People Initiating Change) engineers. Students develop their STEM powers, exploring the essential skills that are needed to be successful in a STEM career. Activities are underpinned by examples from the world of work, with students finding out about careers in transport infrastructure as they take on different roles in the challenges.

Activities include 'Stations of the Future': a team-based design-and-present activity where students compete to design a futuristic train station considering future trends and the needs of all customers and also tunnel building, where students design, construct and test a supporting structure for a cut and cover tunnel.

We have also introduced STEM projects accredited by the British Science Association, which, when completed, can be entered for a CREST Award. These are longer projects aimed at inspiring pupils to become scientists and engineers that encourage students to carry out independent research or investigation. The target age and duration of the projects vary.

The updated online resources also include activities adapted for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to encourage them to think about pursuing STEM careers. Downloadable lessons for SEND students include working in teams to design a train station, learning about ecosystems and building an insect hotel, and preparing for independent rail travel through role play.

Younger students aged between 7-11 can also get involved in shorter activities ranging from making rail tracks from everyday materials, solving puzzles and planning a railway route.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We have added a number of notifications to the new interactive map, which relate to works in the Staffordshire area. For more information on work in the areas listed below please visit the map by clicking the link: https://www.hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/map/#7/52.4530/-1.4880

A5, Hints

Watling Street and Rookery Lane, Hints

Wood End Lane, Fradley

Netherstowe Lane, nr Lichfield

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We would like to invite you to join a free webinar focussing on the environmental sustainability of both Interchange and Curzon Street Station .

Interchange Station

Our brand new West Midlands stations will be amongst the most environmentally friendly buildings in the world once complete. During this free webinar you will hear from our environmental experts about what BREEAM is, the process for achieving an excellent or outstanding BREEAM rating and how we are designing Curzon St Station and Interchange Station to be amongst the world’s most environmentally sustainable stations.

Birmingham Curzon Street Station

The webinar will be broadcast live on Wednesday 12 May, from 12.00-13.15 and you will be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat.

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

This is the third in a series of webinars focussing on Building HS2’s West Midlands stations. The next webinar, Interchange Station- Building Bridges, will take place later this summer. Please visit our events pages for more details.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through the HS2 website and on the HS2 YouTube channel. Further joining instructions will be sent to all registered attendees closer to the time.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Lichfield Rd, Whittington

Wood End Lane, Fradley

Shaw Lane, Hanch

A5, Hints bypass

The HS2 Helpdesk remains operational all day, every day, if you need advice or information from HS2. You can contact the Helpdesk on:

Freephone: 08081 434 434

Minicom: 08081 456 472

Email: hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The new In your area map brings all of our work notifications together on one page, making it easier for you to navigate and ensure you are kept up-to-date on the work we are doing to deliver the new railway. There is also a text only view , which allows you to view the information in a table and filter results for each area.

Each work item, highlighted on the map with a 'hard hat' icon, lets you know:

You can easily see any other works we might be doing nearby, also pinpointed with an icon.

We will be introducing further improvements to the mapping tool and to this local website over the coming months. We will keep you informed of changes as they happen through our regular email notifications and our local engagement events and activities.

We'd like to know what you think about the new mapping tool and ways that we can improve it, to ensure that you can easily find information about the delivery of the railway in your area and how to contact us if you have any questions.

Let us know your views by completing our In your area map feedback survey .

If you have any questions about the recent changes or would like some help using the new interactive map, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel. Further joining instructions will be sent to all registered attendees closer to the time.

Watch the first webinar in the Building HS2’s West Midlands Stations series – Designing Interchange Station .

The next webinar will be 'Midlands Stations – Achieving a Sustainable Lifetime Through Design'. Please subscribe to www.hs2inBirmingham.co.uk to be kept informed about this and future sessions, or visit www.hs2.org.uk/events for details of all upcoming events.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Wood End Lane, Curborough A515, Hanch

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The road closure will be in place from 9.30am to 3.30pm daily from Monday 8 February until Friday 12 February 2021. Please see the work notification for more information on the works, including a map and diversion details.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For more information including maps and exact locations, please see the individual notifications.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

View and download the Community Engagement Progress Report: January to June 2020 report. A collection of all our reports to date can be found on the HS2 website .

We will continue to publish these reports on a regular basis.

As part of our commitment to conserve and enhance Britain’s natural environment as we plan and build the railway, HS2 is creating a Green Corridor along the route, a network of joined up habitats, landscaping and community-based environmental projects.

We have developed an online map showing where we are delivering Green Corridor activities and where additional HS2 funded environmental projects are being delivered along the route. You will be able to use the map to view relevant Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) projects, the Woodland Fund, other local panel funds, and HS2 environmental works in your area.

We have also published a Green Corridor Prospectus to accompany the map. The prospectus outlines the many ways the Green Corridor and associated funding can benefit communities, for example, through the creation of new play facilities, investment in green spaces in urban areas, regeneration along canals, and conservation and enhancement of the historic environment.

Used together the Prospectus and the online map will enable community and environment groups to identify local opportunities to enhance and enjoy the natural environment using the funds available.

As you will know there are a number of grants available to support environmental projects and improve green spaces in your constituency, such as the HS2 Community & Environment Fund and the Woodland Fund. If you would like to know more about how local groups can apply for funding please visit www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/hs2-green-corridor .

We are committed to providing you with information about what construction activities will be happening in your area and when. Our construction forward looks include information on construction, environmental and survey activities planned over the next three months. The latest edition is available to view and download on the Community Engagement Strategy & Plans page .

Please note that the dates and information included in the forward look may be subject to change as the programme develops and any changes will be updated in the next edition of the forward look.

As a reminder, over the festive period the HS2 Helpdesk will continue to operate all day, every day , including Christmas Day and bank holidays. You can contact us for free on 08081 434 434, by Minicom on 08081 456 472, or by email at HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

There will be a road closure in place on Drayton Lane and the top of Shirral Drive for five days from Monday 18 January until Friday 22 January 2021. This follows similar work in 2020 and is to allow safe access along the roadside as part of HS2 works in the area, including vegetation removal. The road closure will be in place between 9:00am and 3:30pm. For more information, including a map, see the notification here

Bangley Lane

There will be a road closure in place on Bangley Lane from Monday 11 January to Friday 15 January 2021. This is to allow safe access to our work sites to prepare for future construction works, which include roadside vegetation clearance. The road closure will be in place between 8:00am and 4:00pm on weekdays. Please see here for the notification

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

WP070 - Temporary traffic lights Shaw Lane and A515_FINAL.pdf

The lane closures will be in place from 09:30am to 3.30pm daily on the phased dates below.

Our teams may be on site up to one hour before and one hour after the works to set up and secure the site at the end of each day. Please see the map for more information for each phase.

• Phase 1: Eastbound lane and layby closure: Monday 11 January – Friday 15 January

• Phase 2: Westbound lane and layby closure: Monday 18 January – Friday 22 January

Access to properties and businesses will be maintained.

WP 070 - A5 Hints bypass lane closures_FINAL.pdf

For more detail, including a map, please see the notification here

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We received 457 replies and our Survey Response Document summarising these has now been published on our website .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

Even before HS2 starts operating, there are countless environmental projects and innovations occurring up and down the route to protect, preserve and enhance Britain’s precious natural environment.

We continue to undertake one of the largest ecological surveys in the UK. Some of the UK’s most experienced and leading ecological consultants are working with us, and our work is supported with technical input and advice from specialist ecologists.

Visit the HS2 website for more information about our work to manage our impact on the environment .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The affected locations will be in Hints, Swinfen and Packington, Whittington, Huddlesford and Streethay . Please follow this link for more information on all locations .

For a more detailed notification on the diversion of the public right of way in Hints, a link to the notice is here .

HS2 and the COVID-19 outbreak

As previously announced, HS2 has taken the decision to postpone all face-to-face engagement events and meetings due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, we remain committed to being a good neighbour to anyone affected by our work, and have continued to notify local residents about any activities in their area through alternative methods of communication. This includes direct mail, such as the latest newsletters, which we have sent in the post to local residents that are impacted by our works.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

The Phase 2a Bill was deposited in the House of Commons in July 2017. Following design reviews, which took into account ongoing engagement with stakeholders and communities, two Additional Provisions (APs) confirming design changes, were deposited in March 2018 (AP1) and February 2019 (AP2) and for each of these, Select Committee hearings were held.

The Bill entered the House of Lords in July 2019 and as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown, the House of Lords Select Committee hearings, due to commence in March 2020, were suspended. The Select Committee hearings resumed in July 2020 and petitioners were offered the opportunity to be heard virtually or in person, with all hearings completed by 23 September.

We expect Royal Assent to be granted in late 2020, providing us with the permission and powers we need to build and operate the railway - this means that our construction work can begin.

As the Bill process progressed, the design for Phase 2a has been amended following scrutiny by the House of Commons Select Committee, after deposit of Additional Provisions 1 and 2. The last update to safeguarding was made in September 2017, and on 23 June 2020 the Government announced a further update to the Safeguarding Directions (safeguarded zone) and zoned property schemes for the Phase 2a section of the route .

Letters were sent to all affected property owners to notify them where Safeguarding Directions have been updated. We responded to queries from some residents who received these letters and provided further guidance and reassurance about the changes where needed.

In the coming months, you may see our teams out and about undertaking surveys as we continue our preparations for building the railway. This will include:

Access for our investigations

In order to gain access to land or property to carry out surveys or investigations, we have historically entered into licences with landowners and occupiers. All licences expired earlier this year and we will not be issuing new licences. We will instead be using powers under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, requiring HS2 Ltd to serve notice on affected parties on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. If we need to access your land as part of these surveys you will receive a letter which will explain what we are doing, when and how.

In the meantime, we are continuing to talk to people and organisations affected by the route, ensuring they understand what is being planned, while identifying opportunities to address any concerns.

The Phase 2a Community Engagement Team remains in place and available throughout the current restrictions and can help with any questions you might have about Phase 2a or the project as a whole.

We are continually reviewing the works on our construction sites in line with Government and Public Health England advice on dealing with COVID-19. The Government’s current strategy makes it clear that construction activity can continue as long as it complies with this guidance. Only sites that can operate within the guidelines are working, and they remain under constant review.

While we have postponed all face-to-face engagement events and meetings, we have been keeping communities informed and involved in different ways. This includes letters, emails, phone calls and online events.

Archaeology on the Phase 2a route

To mark the Council for British Archaeology's Festival of Archaeology , we held a series of free online events for communities to get involved and find out more about what treasures are being unearthed as we build the country's new high speed railway.

An Introduction to HS2 Archaeology: Staffordshire and Cheshire , highlights how our archaeological works on Phase 2a from Fradley to Crewe, which cross north Staffordshire and East Cheshire, build upon our experiences and discoveries from Phase One, revealing new insights and findings about the history of this landscape.

Led by Chris Jordan, our Historic Environment Manager for Phase 2a, this talk introduces the heritage along the Phase 2a route, including the influence of the landscape, and discusses what we are trying to discover, how we do it, and what exciting finds we might expect over the next few years.

We will be hosting more of these events over the coming months, as we continue our preparations to build the new railway. We will get in touch to let you know when new events are scheduled in your area. All upcoming events across the full HS2 route are listed on the HS2 website at www.hs2.org.uk/events .

Our HS2 Helpdesk team is available all day, every day to listen and help with any questions you may have about the project. This is a key part of our commitment to keep you informed while we build the new railway.

If you want to find out more about the HS2 route, the opportunities available or any other changes it might bring to your area, you can contact our Helpdesk team on:

For more information about our Helpdesk and how to get in touch with us, please visit www.hs2.org.uk/helpdesk .

While this closure is operational a signed diversion route will be in place. For more information, see the notification and a map showing the closure location and diversion .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email www.hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

There will be a temporary road closure in place on Park Lane from Thursday 1 October until the end of November. These works have been extended due to poor weather. The road closure will be in place at all times to facilitate permanent access to conduct enabling works ahead of the construction of HS2. The updated notification is here.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

In most cases, our Helpdesk team will be able to answer your question straight away, but if they can’t then they'll work with our local teams in your area to respond.

For more information about our Helpdesk and how to get in touch with us, please visit www.hs2.org.uk/helpdesk

To mark the Council for British Archaeology's Festival of Archaeology , we are holding a series of free online events so you can get involved and find out more about what treasures are being unearthed as we build the country's new high speed railway. The event, now in its 29th year, is being held from October 24 - November 1, shining a light on our past and how our ancestors lived.

If you've ever wondered what an archaeologist does when they’re at work, then or webinar A day in the life of a HS2 Archaeologist on Monday October 26 (12.15 - 12.50pm) is for you!

The session will explore the academic choices and professional job roles which led some of our archaeologists to their careers working on HS2. Hosted by one of our Historic Environment Managers and main works civils contractor CSJV’s Archaeological Lead, this webinar focuses on the careers of Dr Emma Hopla and Dr Emma Tetlow.

They will discuss a typical week in the life of the Archaeological Client and the Archaeological Contractor, as well as some of the exciting discoveries they have made along the way. You will also be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat.

Sign up to attend this free online event via our Eventbrite page

Our second session, An Introduction to HS2 Archaeology: Staffordshire and Cheshire , highlights how our archaeological works on Phase 2a from Fradley to Crewe, which cross north Staffordshire and East Cheshire, build upon our experiences and discoveries from Phase One, revealing new insights and findings about the history of this landscape.

Led by Chris Jordan, our Historic Environment Manager for Phase 2a, this talk will introduce the heritage along the Phase 2a route, including the influence of the landscape, and discuss what we are trying to discover, how we do it, and what exciting finds we might expect over the next few years.

You will be able to ask Chris and the team questions via a live Q&A chat during the online event which takes place on Tuesday October 27 (12.15 - 12.50pm) .

Sign up to attend this free online event via our Eventbrite page

Our final webinar focuses on the archaeological works carried out at St Mary's Church in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire.

An Introduction to St Mary's in Stoke Mandeville on Wednesday October 28 (12.15 - 12.50pm) will be led by Guy Hunt, Partner at LP Archaeology, alongside experts from HS2 and Fusion. Guy and the team will explain how the site is a fantastic opportunity for archaeologists to examine and understand a landscape which has been occupied by humans for thousands of years, dating back to the Bronze Age.

The team will be available to answer your questions during a live Q&A chat option.

Please be warned that the presentation will contain images of human remains (skeletons).

Sign up to attend this free online event via our Eventbrite page

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The Longdon Club & Institute , a Social Enterprise based at the Memorial Hall in Longdon, Rugeley, is a thriving local amenity which has secured a CEF (Community and Environment Fund) grant to provide essential renovations and improvements to the building.

The Memorial Hall, built in 1919 to commemorate those who fell in the First World War and to serve the local community, hosts regular sports, music and bingo nights for local residents. It will receive £75,000 from our CEF fund to carry out a number of enhancements, including improved accessibility for disabled residents and wheelchair users, a new kitchen, tables and chairs and renovation of the building’s exterior. It will also provide a new energy efficient central heating system, new double-glazed windows, roof insulation and electrical rewiring.

The project is a continuation of other upgrades, funded separately, which have seen the improvement of toilet facilities and is part of a programme of work to keep the building in good order to ensure it can continue to serve the community for many more years to come.

To date, over £7.6 million has been awarded from the funds across 126 projects near the HS2 route. In Staffordshire, seven other projects have already benefitted, sharing £337,699 between them. The projects range from upgrades to community facilities including village halls and tennis courts, to a contribution to the development of a new café at the Wolesley Centre, part of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s local estate.

Community and Business Funds

As construction of HS2 gets underway, applications for the funds are still being welcomed. Our Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) for Phase One are worth £40 million. They give local communities and businesses disrupted by the construction of HS2 the opportunity to receive funding of up to £1 million for projects to improve their local area or support their local economy.

The Funds for Phase One, independently administered by community charity Groundwork UK, support urban and rural, community, environmental and business projects. Community and business groups in Staffordshire will also be eligible to apply for a share of the £5million funding announced for Phase 2a of the HS2 route, between the West Midlands and Crewe, when the funding is available.

For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/ . You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The new woodlands will be part of our ‘Green Corridor’ which will see up to 7 million new trees and shrubs planted between London and the West Midlands, supporting delicately balanced local ecosystems running through the spine of the country.

Our environmental experts, as well as those from LMJV and Five Rivers Environmental Contracting, will be discussing the works that are taking place before we build Britain’s new high-speed railway. The session will also highlight the efforts we are making to ensure that we carefully manage our impact on the existing natural environment during the construction and operation of the new railway.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

• An introduction to HS2 archaeology in Fradley to Crewe, Staffordshire: 18 Sept 13:15-14:00

To complement our programme of online archaeology webinars this month, a major three-part documentary series begins tonight, Tuesday, September 15, at 9pm on BBC2, exploring the discoveries found in Britain’s largest ever archaeological programme.' HS2 – The Biggest Dig' will focus on two major cemetery excavations – one adjacent to London’s Euston station and the other in Park Street, next to Birmingham Curzon Street station – the sites of our two new terminals.

For three years, our archaeologists have been giving TV documentary makers, Lion TV, exclusive access to archaeological sites being excavated as part of the project and the series is presented by anthropologist and anatomist Professor Alice Roberts and historian Dr Yasmin Khan.

You can find the full list of our online events at www.hs2.org.uk/events .

We will be publishing video recordings of the session online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn about archaeology in Staffordshire though a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

HS2 - The Biggest Dig will be also be available on BBC iPlayer .

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

September is an exciting time to learn about the mysteries of the past and how our ancestors lived as we host a series of fascinating online archaeology events as part of Heritage Open Days 2020. In addition, a major three-part documentary will be shown on BBC Two from Tuesday, September 15, exploring the discoveries found in Britain’s largest ever archaeological programme.

Before construction work began, and any track is laid, over 1,000 archaeologists, across more than 60 sites between London and the West Midlands, have been carefully uncovering the secrets of Britain’s past. The BBC series, ' HS2 – The Biggest Dig ' will focus on two major cemetery excavations – one adjacent to London’s Euston station and the other in Park Street, next to Birmingham Curzon Street station – the sites of our two new terminals.

For three years, our archaeologists have been giving TV documentary makers, Lion TV, exclusive access to archaeological sites being excavated as part of the project and the series is presented by anthropologist and anatomist Professor Alice Roberts and historian Dr Yasmin Khan.

The BBC series is complemented throughout September with a number of online archaeology webinars to support Heritage Open Days 2020, highlighting some of the exciting finds uncovered along the route of the new railway.

We're holding the following online events (click on the events below to register):

You can find the full list of our online events at www.hs2.org.uk/events .

We will be publishing video recordings of the session online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn about each topic through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

HS2 - The Biggest Dig will be also be available on BBC iPlayer .

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

You can find the full list of our online events here .

We will be publishing video recordings of the session online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn about each topic through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To ensure that the local road network is fit for purpose when the future HS2 Interchange Station is operational, HS2 contractors are expanding and improving the existing network and creating new routes on HS2 land.

On Friday 7 August 2020, junctions 6 and 7A (northbound) and junctions 7 and 6 (southbound) of the M42 were closed to traffic. This closure enabled early works contractor, LM, to safely install a 65 metre bridge over the motorway.

We’re pleased to inform you that the closure of the M42 has been lifted and road users can now travel in both directions. Work to install the 2,750 tonne, 65 metre long bridge, which spans the width of the M42, was completed in just two days and the motorway reopened to road users earlier than planned.

A 448-wheel transporter took just one hour and 45 minutes to move the bridge span 150 metres, where it was affixed to a composite concrete deck to complete the overall bridge structure. Traditional construction methods would have required several weeks of lane closures on both carriageways, followed by additional weekend and overnight closures.

The successful installation marks the completion of the first of four bridges to be built close to the new Interchange Station. It will form part of the major remodelling of the existing road network to improve the circulation of traffic around the HS2 railway line and the new Interchange Station.

We would like to thank you for your patience during this time.

Visit the HS2 website to find out more about the M42 bridge installation .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

To ensure that the local road network is fit for purpose when the future HS2 Interchange Station is operational, we are expanding and improving the existing network and creating new routes on HS2 land.

These works will be concentrated on and around Northway Island, on the B4438 and Northway. To link the new network with existing routes, we’re building four connecting highways bridges. The first of these new bridges will span the M42. To safely install the bridge deck over the M42, we will close sections of the M42 for one weekend.

The area between junctions 6 and 7A (northbound) and junctions 7 and 6 (southbound) will be closed after evening rush hour on Friday 7 August 2020, and reopen before morning rush hour on Monday 10 August 2020 . If work progresses faster than expected, we will reopen the M42 earlier if possible.

During the temporary closure, diversions will be in place and clear signage will be displayed along the route for drivers. For full details of the road closures and diversion routes, please visit the Highways England website .

Click here to view the works notification, including a map .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

A weekend closure of the M42 is required to install the bridge . The area between junctions 6 and 7A (northbound) and junctions 7 and 6 (southbound) will be closed after evening rush hour on Friday 7 August 2020, and reopen before morning rush hour on Monday 10 August 2020 . If our work progresses faster than expected, we will reopen the M42 earlier if possible.

During this temporary closure, diversions will be in place and clear signage will be displayed along the route for drivers. Visit the Highways England website for full details of the road closure and diversion routes .

For more information about this, please go to our new page, Improving the Local Road Network in the Interchange area .

For more information about these works please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Please click to view or download our HS2 Newsletter Update: Phase 2a for further information about upcoming works.

If you have any questions about HS2 or the development of the Phase 2a route, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you have any questions about HS2 or the development of the Phase 2a route, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

On 23 June 2020 the Secretary of State for Transport issued updated safeguarding directions for the whole of the Phase 2a route , which will run between the West Midlands and Crewe. These were formally announced in Parliament by the HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson MP .

In order to protect the land needed to build High Speed Two, the Secretary of State for Transport issues ‘Safeguarding Directions’ to local planning authorities. This means that HS2 Ltd must be consulted on any planning applications within the safeguarded area.

These safeguarding directions reflect the amendments (and therefore land requirements) that have been made to the hybrid Bill by the House of Commons as it passed through the Select Committee.

Through these revised safeguarding directions, the government has protected land that is anticipated at this stage will be needed to build Phase 2a of HS2 and where there may otherwise be a risk of conflicting development.

The new Safeguarding Directions supersede those issued in September 2017.

We have written to landowners on the Phase 2a route who are affected by these changes to let them know what’s happened, what it will mean for them and what they can do.

More information about safeguarding – including the new safeguarding maps for Phase 2a – can be found on the GOV.UK website .

If you have any questions about safeguarding for Phase 2a or the wider HS2 programme please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

We will be publishing video recordings of each webinar online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn how to get your business 'HS2 ready' through on our HS2 YouTube channel.

You can find out more information about HS2's local business opportunities here . For more information about this event or any of our forthcoming events please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If your business or community is  near to the line of route between the West Midland and London  and you want to find out more about the funding programme and local business opportunities available through HS2, please sign up to our event below. 

We will be publishing video recordings of each webinar online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn about the funding and business opportunities available through on our HS2 YouTube channel.

You can find out more information about the HS2 Community Funds here  and  local business opportunities here .For more information about this event or any of our forthcoming events please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on  08081 434 434  or email  hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The public is being invited to go to https://www.hs2.org.uk/tbmvoting/ and vote for their favourite name, from a shortlist of three chosen by local school children and inspired by female scientific and medical pioneers.

The names are:

The name with the most votes will be given to the first TBM, due to be launched from a site close to the M25 early next year. The enormous, 2,000 tonne, 170m long machine will be one of two that will dig the 10 mile long Chiltern tunnels.

The second machine, due to be launched a month later, will be given the second most popular name in the public vote.

The TBMs will be operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV – a joint venture formed of three companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

The machines are being built by Herrenknecht in Germany. Their names are being chosen now so they can be fixed to machines during their manufacture, ready for when they emerge out of the factory.

After completion the first two machines will be disassembled before beginning their long journey to England. Once they have arrived on site, each TBM will be reassembled, ready to begin their life underground.

Together the TBMs will spend around three years digging what will be the longest and deepest tunnels on the project, stretching from just inside the M25, to South Heath in Buckinghamshire.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The previous works notification can be downloaded or viewed the notice here.

This news alert is to inform you that these works are postponed until further notice. The work did involve remedial works and installation of signage to the access road.

We will update you further, when these remedial works are due to start.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The Archaeology of HS2 – Uncovering the Curzon Street roundhouse , will now be broadcast live from 1pm – 2pm on Wednesday 3 June.  All tickets will still be valid for the session on 3 June, so if you have already registered for the session you do not need to register again .

If you have not already registered but are keen to attend, you can still register your interest in attending this online event .

Hosted by HS2's Historic Environment team, this webinar will focus on the unearthing of what is thought to be the world’s oldest railway roundhouse at our Birmingham Curzon Street construction site earlier this year. The webinar will feature  previously unseen photographs, footage and imagery  captured during archaeological excavations earlier this year. You will be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat option.

We will be publishing video recordings of each webinar online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn about our archaeological work through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel.

For more information about this event or any of our forthcoming events please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on  08081 434 434  or email  hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The report is available to view and download here .

A collection of all our reports to date can be found here .

If you have any questions about the report, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

View or download our HS2 Update: North Warwickshire and Staffordshire, Spring/Summer 2020 newsletter for further information about upcoming works in the area.

As previously announced, HS2 has taken the decision to postpone all face-to-face engagement events and meetings due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, we remain committed to being a good neighbour to anyone affected by our work, and have continued to notify local residents about any activities in their area through alternative methods of communication. This includes direct mail, such as the latest newsletters, which we have sent in the post to local residents that are impacted by our works.

You can find out Information about HS2 construction works during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic here.

Visit the Works in you area for further detail about current or planned works in Warwickshire.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

A map of all awarded projects is available here . Some of the awards in Staffordshire include:

An announcement in January 2018 confirmed that the extra £5 million would be made available for Phase 2a (West Midlands to Crewe). There is no fixed allocation between CEF and BLEF. The additional £5 million for Phase 2a will be made available following Royal Assent (confirmation) of the Phase 2a Bill. CEF and BLEF are not currently available for Phase 2b of HS2.

The independent administration of these funds is managed on behalf of HS2 Ltd by the charity Groundwork who will ensure both funds remain available for applications throughout the construction of Phase One. Read the Groundwork annual review .

You can find further information on both gov.uk and the HS2 website .

The four contractors along the phase one route – SCS Railways, Align JV, EKFB JV and BBV JV – will start the second stage of their contracts immediately, progressing detailed design, site preparation works and placing important sub-contracts. During this period, our contractors are continuously reviewing their ability to work within Public Health England guidelines to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce and the communities in which we are working.

We understand that some local communities are concerned about the impact of construction and we remain committed to being a good neighbour to anyone affected by our work.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you contact us by post there will be an extended delay in us receiving and responding due to the current circumstances.

You can view a copy of the works notification here Hams Hall . These works will continue until November 2020.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Early works to construct the new railway, is carried out by a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons, known as LM.

LM have been carrying out junction improvement works on the A446/Lichfield Road between Water Orton and Coleshill at the entrance to the current Severn Trent treatment plant. These works will now be extended until July 2020. The reason for these works is to ensure the site has suitable access for the vehicles and work personnel required to undertake the building of the railway.

LM need to continue operating traffic management in the area to ensure a safe working environment.

You can read the notification and learn more about the works.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

This new work in April will involve remedial works and installation of signage to the access road. The works notification can be viewed here notification .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV) is working on behalf of HS2 Ltd to build the new railway in your area. To support the building of the railway, we need to construct a number of compounds along the route, including a main site compound at Cappers Lane.

A compound is an area of land which will be used as a base for staff to work from and include areas to store and transport soils and prepare the materials we will require for construction.

Work will start in late March / early April 2020 and it will take up to 8 months to complete the compound. our core working hours will be Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (excluding bank holidays) and from 8:00 am to 13:00 pm on Saturdays.

A detailed works notification can be viewed here main compound , this notification provides further information of the different types and functions of compounds.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Our Helpdesk Team will be in regular contact with community engagement managers, and will be able to put you in touch should you need to speak to your local team.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

We’re inviting primary schools close to the HS2 line of route for Phase One to sign up for a free safety workshop that teaches children about the importance of staying safe around construction sites. Safety is one of our core values and we’re working with Arc Theatre to deliver Playing it Safe , an interactive workshop.

Playing it Safe has visited over 5,000 pupils so far since its launch in 2018 to teach them about the dangers present on construction sites and the surrounding areas, as well as the consequences of trespassing on those sites.The workshop is available to Years 5 and 6 with audiences of between 30 and 90 pupils, with each session lasting between 60-75 minutes. Arc Theatre can deliver up to two sessions in one school per day. The workshop is completely free of charge, but limited and offered to schools closest to the route. If you would like your local school to take part in this workshop please ask them to contact Nita@arctheatre.com or call 020 8595 8509.

For more information about our safety programme or the wider HS2 project you can contact our HS2 Helpdesk team team all day, every day on:

For the surveys to be completed in a safe environment, we will be installing traffic lights on Cappers Lane on the 12th March for one day. The works notification can be viewed here Cappers Lane .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

South Staffs Water will be digging a trial ditch to determine the depth and condition of any existing pipeline that runs along the south bound verge of the A38 at Streethay Junction. You can read Streethay Junction South Staff Water works here.

A map showing the work's location is below:

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Early works for HS2 are carried out by LM – a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons.

Over the coming weeks LM will be working near Huddlesford and Lichfield to prepare the route of the new railway ahead of main works construction. This work includes vegetation, hedgerow, tree removal and installing a fence.

To ensure safe access to our work sites along Cappers Lane we will be operating temporary traffic lights. These signals will be in operation between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm from week commencing 16 March for three weeks, subject to site and weather conditions. A link to the works notification is available here Cappers Lane .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Last July 2019, we notified you of works Cadent Gas planned to do off the A453 - Sutton Road, south west of Mile Oak. The work involved Cadent moving an underground gas pipeline. The work started in mid- July and are expected to finish in September 2020. The previous works notification is available here October 2019 notifications to view.

In order to complete these works on time, Cadent are extending their working hours to include weekend working on Saturday and Sunday. This will enable them to carry out the pipeline diversion safely and efficiently. The extended working hours will be in place for eight weeks , from 17 February. This means you will see people on site from 08:00 am to 18:00 pm during the weekend.

You can view the New notification here.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

You can read more about these Hints work and note the information contained in the map.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Further to our post on the 2nd January, there's now just four days left to have your say. You can view the plans on the HS2 website and download an information booklet , before completing our quick online survey . The survey closes at 11pm on Thursday 30 January.

Common Design Elements are parts of the railway with a standardised appearance which will give it a recognisable look and make it more efficient to build. They include frequently used structures, such as bridge piers and parapets, as well as lineside noise barriers.

Since Parliament approved plans for the Phase One route in 2017, we've been developing the design of the new railway and now we need your views to help inform how we progress with the Common Design Elements.

If you have any questions about our Common Design Elements or HS2, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on  08081 434 434  or email  hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

You can view the plans on the HS2 website and download an information booklet , before completing our quick online survey . The survey closes at 11pm on Thursday 30 January.

To find out more and let us know your views by completing the survey, please go to  www.hs2.org.uk/common-design . 

If you have any questions about our Common Design Elements or HS2, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on  08081 434 434  or email  hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Full details are available in our latest notice .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Earlier this year we notified you of work we were carrying out to the A38 southbound to create a connection of an access road. This will help to take vehicles working on HS2 off the A38 southbound.

Due to adverse weather conditions we are now extending this work, which is now due to be completed by 2 February 2020.

There will be road and lane closures in place and full details can be in found in our latest notice .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

During summer we told you about work we would be doing west of Mile Oak to carry out a gas pipeline diversion.

We are now due to start the next phase of this work, which will involve drilling two shafts into the ground and using a boring machine to tunnel between these two shafts.

The machinery we need to use to bore the tunnel may need to run for 24 hours a day, however, because the work takes place underground we do not expect there to be any additional noise or disruption in the local area.

We do not anticipate there to be any disruptions to the gas supply in the area. full details are available in our latest notice.

Shirral Drive

Earlier this month we let you know that we would temporarily be closing Shirral Drive.

This work has been temporarily postponed. It is now due to start the week commencing 9th December for seven weeks. You can find full details in the updated version of the notice .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We will put signs up before the closure is put in place. Full details are available in our latest notice .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

There will be a clearly signed diversion route. You can find full details of the works in our latest notice .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

The report is available to view and download here: https://www.hs2.org.uk/documents/community-engagement-progress-report-january-to-june-2019/

If you have any questions about the report, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

You can find full details of the work in our latest notice .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Visit the HS2 website to find out about the stations we will serve.

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

As HS2 confirmed in this statement , we have instructed our contractors to hold off clearance of ancient woodlands required for the construction of the railway during the period of the Oakervee review. For more information, please see HS2’s statement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hs2-ltds-approach-to-ancient-woodlands-during-the-oakervee-review

However, it will be necessary for HS2 Ltd to undertake certain essential works to enable removal of potential refuge habitat for Great Crested Newts and the closure of badger setts, it may be necessary to first clear discrete areas of scrub and ruderal vegetation.

In addition, certain mitigation measures for the protection of bats will be required, in order to avoid the risk of bats roosting in trees that will be the subject of Clearance Works, in the event that such works resume from January 2020. This work will also need to take place this autumn, ahead of hibernation.

The work will include blocking up holes in trees to stop bats from roosting, as well as potentially removing some selected branches, for the same purpose. However, HS2 Ltd will not remove branches from any ‘ancient’ or ‘veteran’ trees within any ancient woodland This work is required to meet legal requirements and will be undertaken in accordance with the terms of the necessary bat licences granted by Natural England.

Other activities

We will be continuing with other clearance activities this winter. This includes clearing shrubs, hedgerows and woodland in non-ancient sites, as well as habitat creation.

This work needs to continue in order to ensure that our main construction work can commence on time in future. It is also important to complete this work during this time of year as it is outside of key periods in the ecological calendar, such as bird nesting season, minimising our impact on local wildlife.

For more information about our work in your area, we are holding a drop-in event at the following location:

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on  08081 434 434  or email  hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Our enabling works contractor, the Laing O’Rourke and Murphy (LM) joint venture recently published an Autumn/Winter Newsletter to provide more information about early works in Warwickshire, outlining our activities from October 2019 to March 2020 to ensure main construction work can start on time.

Included in the newsletter was an update about how some of our work activity would affect limited areas of ancient woodlands. We have assessed 11 ancient woodlands, parts of which were due to be affected by preparations to build Britain’s new high speed railway this autumn, during the period of the Oakervee review . Work will now be deferred to Autumn or Winter 2020 on 5 of these sites, and to early 2020 on 6 of the sites. We will also take measures to protect wildlife to ensure they are not affected when work begins in early 2020.

The work affecting 11 ancient woodlands will be deferred as follows:

Five sites to be deferred to Autumn / Winter 2020

Six sites to be deferred to early 2020

Other essential preparatory works will continue during this period including general vegetation clearance, fencing, preparation of site compounds, and ground investigations. We are continuing to assess and monitor this programme of work and any related impacts on ancient woodlands. Should that ongoing assessment result in any changes to our position, we will inform you as soon as possible.

We are also delivering an extensive community engagement programme to ensure that local people are kept up-to-date with any works in their area.

For further information about HS2's approach to minimising the impact of our works on the environment visit: https://www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/environment-sustainability/

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on  08081 434 434  or email  hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

You can find full details in our latest notification .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works or require further information, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

1. For this year's Heritage Open Day join us on Saturday 21st September 2019 from 10:30am - 3:30pm at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Bethesda Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 3DW

Join members of Connect Archaeology throughout the day to learn about how archaeologists uncover the archaeology beneath our feet and what we have been finding during our work on HS2.

2. Fradley drop-in, on Tuesday 24th September 2019, 2pm to 5pm you can come and talk to us at Fradley Village Hall, Church Lane, WS13 8NL

3. Lichfield drop-in, We’ll be at Lichfield District council House (WS13 6YY) on Thursday 26th September 2019 from midday to 3pm

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

An introduction to the scheme for residents has been published on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-prolonged-disruption-compensation-scheme/prolonged-disruption-compensation-scheme

Full guidance will be published in late autumn 2019 in advance of the start of the Phase One main construction works.

If you are eligible under this scheme we will contact you in advance of the construction works to discuss your options and provide more information about the application process.

In the meantime if you have any questions, please contact the HS2 Helpdesk on 08081 434 434 or hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For this year's Heritage Open Day join us on Saturday 21st September 2019 from 10:30am - 3:30pm at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Bethesda Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 3DW

Join members of Connect Archaeology throughout the day to learn about how archaeologists uncover the archaeology beneath our feet and what we have been finding during our work on HS2.

We are hosting three events throughout the day:

This is a drop-in activity and does not require booking.

If you'd like to find out more about Heritage Open Day events happening in your area, you can visit the dedicated website .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

How we can help

Our team is here to listen and help with any enquiry, complaint or feedback you may have. Our Helpdesk team will try to answer your questions in the first instance. If we need to talk to other people in the company to provide a full response, we’ll make sure we investigate your query with the relevant people at HS2 Ltd and respond at a later time.

If you would like to see our complaints procedure or you’re not satisfied with how your case is being dealt with, further information can be found here .

You can also contact our Helpdesk if you think you have a damage claim related to HS2.

We’ve written the Staffordshire Local Area Engagement Plan to explain how we’ll deliver our Community Strategy in Staffordshire's Phase One section of the new railway between Drayton Bassett and Handsacre. This Local Area Engagement Plan covers works associated with Phase One section only and not the Phase 2a section of the route between Fradley in Staffordshire and Crewe.

The plan sets out how we‘ll engage with communities in Staffordshire to ensure that we meet our commitments and continue to be a good neighbour. This is particularly important in 2019 as we begin our main construction work for Phase One.

This plan:

· introduces you to your local Community Engagement team and partners working on our behalf;

· provides maps showing where our key works are in your area;

· informs you about the different ways you can contact us; and

· explains how we’ll measure how well we’re doing against our 10 Community Commitments.

You can find full details in our latest notification .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

Community groups and business support organisations are being encouraged to apply to the Funds for projects that have a demonstrable positive impact on their local community.

A combined total of £40 million has been made available for both the CEF and BLEF projects for Phase One of the construction of HS2. The Funds will provide support for good quality bids and funding will be available throughout this time period. CEF and BLEF have supported 62 projects since March 2017 from small scale grassroots projects to large scale capital projects which benefit a wide range of communities.

For more information on Groundwork and the funds themselves click here .

You can also see an interactive map showing all of the projects awarded funding so far by clicking here .

You can find full details about all our upcoming events on our dedicated events page . Alternatively, if you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

You can find the latest details in our new notice .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

Following on from our notice about works near A38, Streethay earlier this year we would like to let you know about an update to our working hours .

Our working on hours on Saturdays will now begin from 7am and still last until 1pm. Our working hours on Monday to Friday will still be 8am to 6pm.

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

Read the report here , including case studies of how funding is supporting towns and cities along the Phase One line of route.

For more information on Groundwork and the funds themselves click here.

We have a new notice available which details works we will be carrying out near Hints.

We will be setting up a compound and carrying out surveys of the ground. You can find out full details by reading the notification.

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

You can download the report here .

To find out more about the Woodland Fund and how to apply you can visit the Forestry Commission website by clicking here

The BMX track in Whittington village was built a decade ago and is now in a poor state of repair and in need of a renovation. The £9,999 awarded to the project will fund the resurfacing of the track so it can be used properly again by young people in the village.

You can find out more about the Whittington BMX track renovation by visiting www.whittingtonandfisherwick.org.uk/wordpress/ .

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds themselves click here .

You can also see an interactive map showing all of the projects awarded funding so far by clicking here.

We appointed Arc Theatre to deliver Playing it Safe , an interactive health and safety workshop designed for primary schools along the Phase One route of HS2. The workshop uses drama to communicate the dangers present on construction sites and the surrounding areas, as well as the consequences of trespassing on those sites.

The workshop is available to Years 5 and 6 with audiences of between 30 and 90 pupils, with each session lasting between 60-75 minutes. Arc can deliver up to two sessions in one school per day.

The workshop is completely free of charge, but limited and offered to schools closest to the route. If you would like your local primary school to take part in this workshop please ask them to contact Nita@arctheatre.com or call 020 8595 8509 .

Following previous notifications an update has been released regarding the environmental works near Hints .

We have published our latest newsletter about Phase 2a of HS2, from the West Midlands to Crewe. It provides a general progress update, while explaining the support and opportunities available to local people. You can find a copy of the newsletter here.

March 2019 newsletter highlights:

A new notification is now available . From March to May 2019 we'll be undertaking archaeological work on private land close to:

Click on the link to learn more Flats Lane

A previous message about construction works on the A38 near Streethay, contained an incorrect link to the wrong notification. The link supplied will take you to the correct document Streethay

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Work is due to start in early March alongside the southbound A38 in Streethay, where our enabling works contractor will be creating a haul road. Click on this link to find out more Streethay, construction work near

Further information about the petitioning process is available on the House of Commons Select Committee website by clicking here.

Consultations

The significant environmental effects of the changes proposed in AP2 are reported in the Additional Provision 2 Environmental Statement (AP2 ES), which we have published today. We have also published a second Supplementary Environmental Statement 2 which sets out the likely significant environmental effects of changes to the design that do not require a change to Bill powers, and as a result of new environmental baseline information.

We are also consulting on an updated Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) report, which considers the impact of the changes on people with protected characteristics, as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

The AP2 ES, SES2 and EQIA update report will be subject to a consultation until 23:45 on 29 March . You can find further information about these consultations by visiting www.gov.uk/hs2 .

How to respond to the consultations

If you would like to have your say on the SES2 and AP2 ES consultation, you can:

If you would like to have your say on the EQIA update report consultation, you can:

Surveys will take place week commencing 18 February, for three weeks. Use the link below to access the notification posted Bangley Lane Ground investigation notice

You can find out the full details about what will be happening on Sutton Road and Church Lane, Middleton in our notifications.

A new notification about overnight works taking place on the A38 in Streethay is now available.

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds themselves click here.

You can also see an interactive map showing all of the projects awarded funding so far by clicking here

The events were well attended, with over 1000 people finding out the latest on the scheme’s design and how the Phase 2a legislation, known as a hybrid Bill, is progressing through the parliamentary process. The events provided the opportunity for anyone impacted by the scheme to speak to a number of HS2 specialists including representatives from our engineering, environment, land and property, local engagement team and petition management teams. Importantly, this included discussions about the support available to local people, including our property schemes and future community funds. At each event, an In Your Area factsheet summarising the plans for the railway was available. You can download the factsheet for your area by vising the Overview of HS2 in Staffordshire page by clicking here.

The Phase 2a hybrid Bill is about to start its next stage in the parliamentary process with a proposed set of changes to the plans, in the form of a second Additional Provision (AP2), expected to be deposited in Parliament in the New Year. Following our series of autumn information events, we will continue to keep local communities up-to-date on the proposals for the railway. Please continue to visit this site and subscribe to receive the latest news updates and information for HS2 in Staffordshire.

https://www.hs2.org.uk/documents/community-engagement-progress-report-january-to-june-2018/

You can find out more about Staffordshire Wildlife Trust by visiting www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds themselves click here.

You can also see an interactive map showing all of the projects awarded funding so far by clicking here.

If you are phoned by an interviewer from Ipsos MORI asking for your views on whether HS2 is being a good neighbour, please consider taking part. The survey will help us to measure how well we are doing against the commitments in our Community Engagement Strategy and your feedback will also help us understand where we need improve.

If you have any queries regarding the survey please visit the contact us page by clicking here.

For information about the new Construction Commissioner, please click here

For information on Safety and Security Support Vehicles Starting in August, please click here

We recently updated our guidance on how to make a complaint to HS2 Ltd. This can be found at this https://www.hs2.org.uk/how-to-complain .

For any urgent issues that may need to be quickly resolved, you can call our 24/7 Freephone Community Helpline on 08081 434 434 .

More information about the appointment can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sir-mark-worthington-appointed-as-independent-hs2-construction-commissioner

If you have any questions please call our Freephone Community Helpline on 08081 434 434 or speak to your local engagement manager.

If you suspect a crime, you should always call 999 or 101.

They will begin in August 2018 and be available for the duration of the project.

If you'd like to know what HS2 related events will be happening near by, you can visit our Upcoming Local Events page , which is updated regularly.

We have appointed Arc Theatre to deliver Playing it Safe , an interactive health and safety workshop designed for primary schools along the Phase One route of HS2. The workshop uses drama to communicate the dangers present on construction sites and the surrounding areas, as well as the consequences of trespassing on those sites.

The workshop is available to Years 5 and 6 with audiences of between 30 and 90 pupils, with each session lasting between 60-75 minutes. Arc can deliver up to two sessions in one school per day.

The workshop is completely free of charge, but limited and offered to schools closest to the route. If you would like your local school to take part in this workshop please ask them to contact Nita@arctheatre.com or call 020 8595 8509 .

There will be some traffic management in place related to HS2 works in the area, if you'd like to read the relevant notifications please visit our traffic management page.

Find out about the ecological mitigtion works taking place in Drayton Bassett