Written statement to Parliament HS2 AND THE NORTHERN POWERHOUSE Announces how the government is continuing to deliver the Northern Powerhouse through HS2 and the Northern transport strategy.

This was published under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government HS2 AND THE NORTHERN POWERHOUSE Good strategic transport links are central to the success of our country. This

government — more than any before — is committed to making sure we have the infrastructure we need to deliver economic growth and rebalance the country’s economy, not just in the immediate

future, but for the long term. I am therefore making announcements today (30 November 2015) on how transport is continuing to deliver the Northern Powerhouse through HS2 and the Northern

they can plan for its arrival, and to the private sector that there will be future investment opportunities. HS2 will not be a separate, standalone railway. It will be the new backbone of

our national rail network, with HS2 services running from London and Birmingham to cities in the north of England including Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and on to Scotland. It

will not only deliver significant journey time savings, but also much needed additional capacity and increased connectivity. Private sector companies will be able to bid to run HS2 services,

and will also be able to use this capacity to offer a wider range of services. We are making good progress with HS2 Phase One (from London to Birmingham). The hybrid Bill for this part of

the railway is proceeding through Parliament and we are aiming to achieve Royal Assent by the end of 2016, so that construction can begin in 2017. In his reports, ‘HS2 plus’ (March 2014) and

‘Rebalancing Britain’ (October 2014), Sir David Higgins recommended that we seek to build the section of the route to Crewe more quickly to deliver further benefits to the north sooner. We

agree that we should realise the benefits of HS2 as soon as possible. I am therefore announcing today my decision on the section of the route from Fradley in the West Midlands to Crewe — now

referred to as ‘Phase 2a’. We intend to accelerate Phase 2a so that it opens 6 years earlier than planned, in 2027. This will bring more capacity and faster HS2 services to the north-west

of England, including Crewe, Liverpool, Manchester and Scotland much sooner than originally planned. Our plans will help to support growth and deliver jobs more quickly. Powers to build this

section of the route will be sought through a separate hybrid Bill which I intend to introduce to Parliament in 2017. HS2 Ltd have now procured Professional Services Consultants (PSCs), for

the purposes of supporting the hybrid Bill development. In the light of my decision on the HS2 route from the West Midlands to Crewe I am also today issuing safeguarding directions for that

part of the route, having considered responses to the November 2014 consultation on this. The directions will ensure that new developments in this corridor do not affect the ability to

build or operate Phase 2a or lead to excessive additional costs. Safeguarding also triggers the statutory blight regime. Qualifying owner-occupiers whose property is within the safeguarded

zone will have the right to ask the government to buy their property by serving a blight notice. We are committed to assisting people affected by HS2. All those living within the

safeguarding zone will receive a letter informing them about potential entitlements. And I am also today launching a consultation on a wider package of assistance measures for

owner-occupiers, which go well beyond what we are required to do by law, for those living along this section of the route, as we have already done for Phase One. We set out our initial

preferred route for Phase Two of HS2 in January 2013 and later that year conducted a public consultation exercise seeking the public’s views on the route. Today, we have published the

independent analysis by Ipsos MORI of all the responses to the 2013 Phase Two route consultation. My route decision on Phase 2a takes account of the consultation responses regarding that

section of the route; and the command paper also responds to the cross-cutting issues raised. We continue to progress plans for the rest of the HS2 Phase Two route. I welcome the way local

authorities, most recently those in Leeds, the Northern Gateway Partnership and the East Midlands, have come together to support HS2 plans in their areas. Further work is needed on the

remainder of the Phase Two route before a decision can be taken. I intend to make a decision in autumn 2016, but today I can update the House on my thinking as follows: * Leeds: We have now

received Sir David Higgins’ report on Leeds Station — which is also published today. It recommends an integrated design for the HS2 station, while maintaining a southerly route into the

city. I am minded to agree with Sir David’s proposal. * South Yorkshire: Sheffield Meadowhall was the government’s preferred station location in the Phase Two route consultation. The

evidence continues to suggest that this is likely to be the best way of serving the wider South Yorkshire region and we are working with the National Infrastructure Commission and Transport

for the North on the possible interfaces with Northern Powerhouse rail. However, we acknowledge there are arguments in favour of a city centre location and continue to examine relevant

analysis. * East Midlands: Sir David Higgins has confirmed that HS2 Limited recommends a hub station should be located at Toton. Toton is also supported by the East Midlands local

authorities who are united behind this proposed location. The government therefore continues to support Toton as the best location for an East Midlands Hub. Last week the Chancellor

announced growth funding to allow the area to start its planning for HS2. Part of this will be released this year, and the remainder would be released when a decision is made. * Manchester:

Manchester Piccadilly continues to look like the right location for HS2’s Manchester terminus. To maximise its potential to support economic growth in the region, it will be important to

ensure effective co-ordination with the development of Northern Powerhouse rail to transform east-west links across the north of England. We are continuing our work through Transport for the

North, and with the National Infrastructure Commission, to explore synergies and integration between the schemes, in order to develop the right rail infrastructure that delivers growth

across the whole of the north of England. * We also remain of the view that a Manchester Airport station is likely to be the right option, subject to agreeing an appropriate third party

funding contribution to the costs. * In 2014, Sir David Higgins recommended that HS2 serve a north-west hub station at Crewe. While I am not taking decisions on Crewe hub today, I do support

the vision for a Crewe hub. Work is ongoing I intend to make further announcements in 2016, and any Crewe hub scheme will be subject to consultation. To support the work that the Northern

Gateway Partnership is doing to develop growth and regeneration plans ahead of a decision I am releasing part of this funding this year. * I have asked HS2 Ltd to explore options for how we

might best serve Stoke and Macclesfield, including through classic-compatible trains via Handsacre Junction. Handsacre Junction is part of Phase One and will allow HS2 trains to serve

Stafford. * Scotland will benefit from reduced journey times as soon as Phase One opens (3 hours 56 minutes from London to Glasgow, compared with a typical journey time of 4 hours 31 minutes

at present). Accelerating delivery of Phase 2a between the West Midlands and Crewe will further reduce the journey time from London to Glasgow to 3 hours 43 minutes. The full “Y” network

will provide faster services from London to both Glasgow (3 hours 38 minutes) and Edinburgh (3 hours 39 minutes). The UK government and the Scottish government are working closely together

to consider options to further reduce journey times. We hope to make a statement on next steps in the New Year. I have not taken any decision on the remainder of the Phase Two route. We will

respond in full to consultation responses relating to the rest of the Phase Two route when a route decision is taken in 2016. Copies of the command Paper: High Speed Two: east and west —

the next steps to Crewe and beyond and other accompanying documents have been made available in the libraries of both Houses and can be found on GOV.UK. * High Speed Two: east and west — the

next steps to Crewe and beyond command paper * HS2 Phase Two: from the West Midlands to Leeds and Manchester document collection * HS2: government response to the Phase 2a safeguarding

consultation command paper * HS2 Phase 2a: strategic case * HS2 Phase 2a: economic case * HS2: supplement to the October 2013 strategic case * HS2: rail alternatives to Phase 2a * High speed

rail expenditure report 2014 to 2015 The cost of HS2 has not changed since the Spending Review 2013. The Spending Review 2015 confirmed an overall budget of £55.7 billion in 2015 prices.

This is consistent with the £50.1 billion (in 2011 prices) set in 2013, but has been uprated to take account of inflation. TRANSPORT FOR THE NORTH AND THE NORTHERN TRANSPORT STRATEGY Today,

jointly with Transport for the North, we are publishing a progress report on the Northern Transport Strategy, which includes updates on our progress across the full range of the strategy,

including international connectivity, freight, smart and integrated ticketing, strategic roads and Northern Powerhouse rail. The fast, frequent, reliable and comfortable rail service we plan

will underpin the Northern Powerhouse economy. Copies of the report The northern transport strategy: autumn report have been placed in the libraries of both Houses and can be found on

GOV.UK. The government has also taken steps to support the development of Transport for the North as an organisation that represents the whole of the north of England and can speak to

government with one voice on the region’s transport priorities. Last week’s spending review committed £50 million of funding over this Parliament to help Transport for the North drive

forward plans to transform the north’s transport links and build a single regional economy. Today, I am delighted to announce, jointly with Transport for the North, the appointment of John

Cridland as the new independent Chair of the Transport for the North Partnership Board. Together with his Chief Executive, David Brown, John Cridland will have the responsibility for

delivering the Northern Transport Strategy, working closely in partnership with Lord Adonis and the National Infrastructure Commission. Following advice from the National Infrastructure

Commission in March 2016, schemes such as Northern Powerhouse rail will have access to a brand new £300 million national Transport Development Fund. UPDATES TO THIS PAGE Published 30

November 2015