High Speed 2 Railway
High Speed 2 (HS2) is a planned high-speed railway network that will increase capacity and connectivity across the Midlands and the North. Phase One will link the cities of London and Birmingham.
We are not involved in the construction or future running of the HS2 line or service. However, the construction of Phase One of the line will have an effect on parts of the District and so, for this reason, we are working with HS2 Ltd to mitigate the impacts of their work and associated construction traffic in specific locations in the District.
Local disruptions
Phase One was issued with “Notice to Proceed” by the Department for Transport on 15 April 2020 and contracts for the detailed design and construction work have now been signed (referred to as “joint ventures”).
Included in the HS2 scheme is work to create an overbridge and noise barrier at Newton Purcell and a replacement overbridge on the A421 London Road. These projects will result in some disruption locally on the road network and to local communities and the District and County Councils will be involved in shaping key HS2 delivery documentation and agreeing any required diversions or mitigation measures.
The construction and commissioning of HS2 is expected to take place in stages between 2018 and the end of 2033. Specific delivery programmes and construction details will be provided by the contractors.
You can use the HS2 website to keep up-to-date on planned work and disruptions in our area.
View planned work and local disruptions
If you have concerns or questions about the impact of HS2, please contact the HS2 Helpdesk Team on 08081 434 434 or via email.
Joint ventures
Joint venture contracts have been signed to deliver essential early works - including archaeology, site clearance and setting up construction compounds - ahead of the start of the main civil engineering work.
The £900m Enabling Works Contracts cover the whole of Phase One, from London to Birmingham and the connection to the West Coast Mainline at Handsacre. Enabling works in Oxfordshire are forecasted from Autumn 2019 to Spring 2021.
Oxfordshire is in the HS2 Central Construction area. The following joint ventures will be appointed for the central area:
- Area Central – Fusion JV (Morgan Sindall plc, BAM Nuttall Limited, Ferrovial Agroman (UK) Limited)
As well as archaeology, site clearance and establishing site compounds, the contractors will also deliver a range of activities including utility diversions, ecology surveys, demolition, ground remediation, watercourse activities, highways realignments, monitoring and instrumentation, structural reinforcements and drainage work.