Commons Written Answer

30th June 2021

Answered on: Tuesday 22 June 2021

Department for Transport

Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the HS2 project supports and promotes biodiversity along the whole of the route. [16079]

Andrew Stephenson (Pendle):HS2 is committed to being the most environmentally responsible major infrastructure project in UK history, and to deliver ‘no net loss’ to biodiversity across all of its phases. It was the first major infrastructure project to make such a commitment.

However, in June 2021 the Government stated its further aim to deliver a ‘net gain’ to biodiversity for the Phase 2b (Crewe to Manchester) section. This goes further than no net loss and sets a new standard for HS2’s environmental commitments on future phases.

The HS2 Green Corridor initiative, brings together the core mitigation and compensation measures planned for Phase One (London to West Midlands) and Phase 2a (West Midlands to Crewe) with dedicated funds including the £45m Community and Environment Fund, £7m Woodland Fund and the £2 million Phase 2a biodiversity fund, in order to amplify positive environmental impacts.

HS2’s commitments will protect the natural environment, and leave behind richer, more diverse and better-connected landscapes and wildlife habitats, to deliver on the Government’s pledge for a positive future for nature.