High Speed 2: response to Draft Environment Statement

The Environment Committee's response to the HS2 consultation – Draft Environment Statement – was concerned about the environmental impacts of HS2. It said current plans for HS2 would over 200 homes and cause extensive damage to green spaces and local communities. It also called for a review of the cost-benefit analysis of HS2.

It also said compensation measures for the loss of homes and habitats are inadequate, and there are no details of mitigation measures on noise and little details on how air quality issues will be monitored and addressed.

The Committee called for modelling work on pollution to be completed without delay, more information on mitigation for noise and environmental damage and said HS2 Ltd should consider and make public all options on the possible route within London. It also called on ministers to consider extending tunnelling in west London to reduce the negative impacts, which would see the creation of a viaduct up to 15 metres high through the Colne Valley.