FAQs: Business Support
OPDC has met with High Speed 2 (HS2), the Park Royal Business Group, and local businesses to discuss how businesses will be impacted by HS2. The immediate priority for OPDC is to help businesses that are due to be displaced by HS2 through the acquisition of sites to support construction.
HS2 receives legal approval from Parliament
In February 2017, HS2 received legal approval from Parliament to progress with the line running from London to Birmingham. As a result, HS2 will now start in the Old Oak area in preparation for HS2. This work will involve ground investigations and ecology studies.
For the Old Oak area, this will mean that ground investigation works will be taking place along Old Oak Common Lane and for homes that are close to preparatory building work will be notified about their eligibility for sound proofing. The main contractors that will be carrying out this work for HS2 around Old Oak and Park Royal is: CS JV (Costain Group Plc and Skanska Construction UK Limited).
Further information on HS2 and what ground investigations mean for the area can all be found online:
HS2 activity in the Old Oak area
Ground Investigations:
This usually involves digging into the ground to a specific depth and retrieving samples of the soil to understand depth and soil strength and installing monitoring equipment.
This is expected to take place along Victoria Road and is estimated to start in early October 2017 for two weeks.
Utilities Surveys:
Utilities such as gas and water will need to be diverted from Bethune Road, leading to the roads closure. HS2 will be be investigating where the possible route of the diversions will be with trial trenches being dug in the nearby roads.
This is expected to take place on:
- Atlas Road
- School Road
- Bethune Road
- Chase Road
- Victoria Road
The work is estimated to start October 2017 until early February 2018. Work on Victoria Road is expected to start in January 2018.
For more information and maps of the areas impacted, review this document created by HS2.
HS2 Business & Local Economy Fund
On behalf of HS2, the charity Groundwork is administering two funds that have been announced that are available to local communities that need help with the disruption that will be caused by the construction of Phase one of HS2 between London and the West Midlands; the Business and Local Economy Fund and the Community and Environment Fund. Local businesses and communities are now able to apply for these funds and there are eligibility checkers on the website for both.
HS2 are asking for local businesses to get involved
HS2 is asking for local businesses to get involved and help shape the way we engage with business and are holding a workshop on Wednesday 21 February in Holiday Inn London West, 4 Portal Way, North Acton, London W3 6RT, from 7:30am until 9.30am. Further information can be found on their website.
Is your business being acquired by HS2?
If your business is being acquired by HS2 and you would like additional information on the help available, please email HS2 or call the HS2 helpdesk 020 7944 4908. Other support available from HS2 includes:
- A half day workshop which took place on Wednesday 30 November 2016 for affected businesses to talk to HS2 and Park Royal Business Group representatives about the relocation and support packages available to affected businesses, including the compensation code and procedure. If you still have queries on these topics contact HS2 using their dedicated Old Oak Common email address
- A premises search service which holds details of possible alternative properties for businesses that are looking for a relocation site. You can find out more about this service by calling 020 7944 4908 and asking for details of the service in your area
- A series of community drop-in events and business workshops. Visit the HS2 Community Events webpage or call 020 7944 4908
Continued support
For businesses that are not being displaced by HS2, but whom may be concerned about the impact of the future regeneration proposals at Old Oak, work is underway to understand how best OPDC can give continued support.
There are many businesses in Old Oak and Park Royal including on Scrubs Lane that OPDC would like to stay in this part of west London. The interim advice to businesses that are relocating but not being displaced by HS2 is to take property and legal advice to support any investment decisions that are being considered for the business assets. RICS: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors provides details of suitable companies to contact.
If you would like to speak to OPDC, please email us directly.
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