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High Speed Rail (HS2)

The government published the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) on 18 November 2021 which outlines the plan for delivering and sequencing major rail investment in the North and Midlands. This includes large sections of the previously published HS2 – the high speed rail route which will be built to link London to the north.

The route through Derbyshire is not included in the IRP but remains safeguarded.


Currently high speed trains run from London St Pancras to Kent connecting to the Channel Tunnel and Europe. This is known as HS1.

HS2 is about providing more capacity to meet the growth in longer distance rail travel. It means faster trains linking the capital to the north, from London through to the West Midlands before the line branches west to Manchester and east towards Leeds.

Experts predict the building of the HS2 route will create thousands of local jobs as well as significantly speeding up journey times and freeing up space for passengers wanting to travel on existing rail networks.

What HS2 means for Derbyshire

The route through Derbyshire was part of a Y-shaped route known as phase 2b. The route is split into an eastern and a western leg with the western leg running from Crewe to Manchester and the eastern leg running from Birmingham to Leeds. The Birmingham to Leeds leg of the route finishes at East Midlands Parkway, options to link to Leeds are to be explored.

In principle, we support IRP plans which help the local economy, bring more jobs to Derbyshire and provide opportunities for local businesses to expand. But we're also supporting the interests of local people who could be adversely affected by any proposals.

We've consistently pressed HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport to minimise the disruption and harmful effects on communities and people's homes - both during and after construction. And we'll continue to push for the best possible outcome for Derbyshire residents, businesses and others along the route with any harmful effects reduced, mitigated.

The safeguarded route passes near to, or through:

  • Long Eaton
  • Sandiacre
  • Pinxton
  • McArthur Glen East Midlands Designer Outlet
  • Hilcote
  • Tibshelf
  • Hardstoft
  • Hardwick Hall
  • Stainsby
  • Heath
  • Doe Lea
  • Sutton Scarsdale
  • Carr Vale
  • New Bolsover
  • Shuttlewood
  • Barlborough

The safeguarded spur line from Hilcote would passes near to or through:

  • Blackwell
  • Newton
  • Stonebroom

The safeguarded spur line to the maintenance depot passes through or close to Woodthorpe, Poolsbrook and Staveley.

About HS2

You can check the HS2 route and view route maps for each phase and view a list of all the stations, an interactive route map and a description of the route map.

The government does not intend to lift safeguarding on the previously proposed HS2 route until further work is concluded on options to take HS2 trains to Leeds. HS2 guidance on blight remains valid.

Consultations

HS2 published a consultation summary for phase 2b design refinement of the western leg only on 7 October 2020. A decision on the eastern leg was to follow the IRP.

The working draft environmental statement

This describes the likely environmental effects of building and operating phase b of HS2, as well as proposed ways to avoid, reduce, mitigate and monitor the effects.

The working draft equality impact assessment report

This considers the potential effects of building and operating the railway on groups protected by the Equality Act 2010.

Reports on HS2 – including our response to the government's last consultation about the scheme – are attached to this page.

You can find out more about HS2. It includes plans and compensation schemes for people whose homes are affected.