HS2 Monthly Report, August ’25

Works update

·       Rocky Lane reopened with the road now diverted under the new HS2 bridge.  This has enabled the closure of Leather Lane for 14 months to allow construction of the Green Bridge there.

·       Nash Lee Road reopened following the completion of the “low permeability” tanking wall around the site for the Wendover North Cutting; which will extend from the north of the green tunnel to Nash Lee Lane.  Excavation of the cutting within the wall is expected in the Autumn.

·       The initial section of the Wendover Green Tunnel has been extended with concrete slab foundations to north and south; and more pre-cast concrete arch segments installed.  Concrete slab work has also started on the “Phase 2” southern section near Bacombe Lane. Building the “Phase 3” northern section requires the provision of a new access road off the A413 Wendover Bypass which will be constructed in the Autumn; and this will be retained permanently for maintenance of the tunnel.

·       The land east of the Chiltern Line that was excavated to allow construction of the Small Dean Viaduct is due to be restored with the delivery of 3700 tonnes of rock over the weekend of 19^th -21^st September.  This will involve night time closures of the A413 while the Chiltern Line is also suspended with Rail Replacement buses in use. We are seeking early installation of the cycleway link over this land due to the ongoing closure of the Small Dean Bridleway causing the lack of a safe route between Wendover and Dunsmore.

·       HS2 have not yet disclosed their next steps for the Spring Chamber but we anticipate a revised planning application in the autumn. We have strongly suggested that the proposal is reviewed by local interested parties before resubmission.

Parish Council activity

·       EKFB held a meeting with WPC to seek approval of Street Lighting provisions as part of the restoration of Ellesborough Road and Bacombe Lane. Examination of the plans identified a number of landscaping issues, and it is proposed that WPC escalate these with Bucks Council prior to any formal submission. This raised a wider concern that due to the HS2 Ltd “programme reset” timescales that all the proposed HS2 landscaping across the rest of the Parish should be determined by November. We have suggested that it is everyone’s interests that WPC gains early access to the draft plans to avoid future planning application delays.

·       HS2 made a grant of £200 to the WPC Skatepark project opening event for raffle prizes

·       HS2 are planning to bring their Mobile Visitor Centre van to the Wendover Farmers Market on September 20^th.

·       It is proposed that another Public Meeting should be held in early November to inform local residents about the HS2 works. 

Public queries

·       Only Two public queries in the month, including questions about next steps with the Spring Chamber planning application and the ongoing closure of the ELL25 PRoW near Wellwick following the Nash Lee Road closure.

31^st August ‘25