High Speed Two and East West Rail – delivery and restoration

TR7: High Speed Two and East West Rail – delivery and restoration High Speed Two 1. Development which would prejudice the implementation of High Speed 2 (HS2) will not be supported. 2. New development must consider HS2 Railway Line by: a) Ensuring it does not affect HS2 programme delivery. b) Managing its construction to minimise cumulative impact on communities, highways and the environment and c) Making use of careful design to protect communities and the environment from noise, visual intrusion, loss of accessibility and impacts on biodiversity, mitigating impacts where practicable from the construction and operation of the HS2 Railway Line. 3. Development proposals should ensure they do not prejudice the long-term establishment and protection of environmental mitigation, including woodland, hedgerows, grassland, ecological habitats and landscape screening required to offset the impacts of the railway. East West Rail 4. Development which would prejudice the implementation of East West Rail (EWR), including the scheme known as the EWR Aylesbury Link (Aylesbury station to Claydon Junction), and future capacity upgrades to the Aylesbury to Princes Risborough Line, will not be supported. 5. Development should not prejudice future overhead line electrification of the EWR Aylesbury Link and / or the Aylesbury to Princes Risborough Line, as shown on the Policies Map. 6. Development of land adjoining the EWR Aylesbury Link or the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury railway line must not prejudice the future doubletracking of these lines. 7. New structures proposed to be introduced across the EWR Aylesbury Link or the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury line shall make passive provision for future doubletracking and for future overhead line electrification. 8. Development proposals should ensure they do not prejudice the long-term establishment and protection of environmental mitigation, including woodland, hedgerows, grassland, ecological habitats and landscape screening required to offset the impacts of the railway. High Speed 2 7.333 High Speed 2 (HS2) is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project that will link London to Birmingham. The Secretary of State for Transport issued a safeguarding direction for the route between London and Birmingham in July 2013. The HS2 Act received Royal Assent in February 2017. The safeguarded land runs through the centre of the county (south to north) and is shown on the Policies Map. The safeguarding directive requires the notification to HS2 Ltd of any planning application which affects the safeguarded land. The purpose of the safeguarding is to avoid conflicting developments during HS2’s construction and implementation. 7.334 The consenting and construction of HS2 will continue to be progressed during the Local Plan period. As the railway line has deemed planning permission and is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) it is important new development proposals do not hinder or delay its implementation. The HS2 proposals within the safeguarded area are not consented through the development plan process: there are specific consenting requirements set out within the HS2 Act. 7.335 The HS2 Act requires schemes of mitigation to reduce the impacts of the railway line within its locational context. The key mitigation measures relate to noise, landscape, and ecology. To ensure the consented level of mitigation remains in place for the operational lifetime of the railway as consented under the HS2 Act no development should alter or remove the mitigation provisions that have been approved and implemented. This is to protect the surrounding communities, heritage assets, and environment. East West Rail 7.336 The delivery of East West Rail (EWR) is vital for the subregion’s prosperity and for improving sustainable travel alternatives to the car for commuting and leisure. 7.337 The EWR project is aiming to provide connectivity to Reading, Didcot, Oxford, Bicester, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich and supports sustainable growth across the corridor. EWR Connection Stage 1 (Bicester to Oxford) is in operation and preparation for Connection Stage 2 (Bicester - Milton Keynes) is well advanced. Connection Stage 3 (Bedford and Cambridge) is currently in the planning stage. 7.338 Connection Stage 2 involves the upgrade of the line linking Bedford to Bicester and Milton Keynes, via Winslow. This will allow passenger and freight services to run between Bedford, Milton Keynes, Bletchley and Bicester, with a new station in Winslow. EWR are also proposing a traction maintenance depot in Buckinghamshire to the west of Bletchley, as well as passing loops for freight in the same area. 7.339 Proposals by EWR Company and the Department for Transport do not currently include provision for the East West Rail Aylesbury Link (Aylesbury station to a mainline connection at Calvert Junction). This Link would enable direct services from Aylesbury and Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Winslow, Bletchley, Milton Keynes and other destinations to the north and east. Services would run via an upgraded existing freight-only line north from Aylesbury Vale Parkway, joining East West Rail at Claydon Junction. Provision for the Aylesbury Link is already being partially delivered by the HS2 programme as part of its reinstatement works for the former single-track line in the Calvert and Claydon area. 7.340 A key priority in the Council’s Economic Growth Plan and Local Transport Plan 5, the Council strongly supports delivery of the East West Rail Link to Aylesbury. This is to include a continuous two-track (double tracking) railway corridor between Aylesbury railway station and Claydon Junction, as well as provision for future overhead line electrification (OLE). Albeit at an early stage of planning, it is appropriate to ensure that development adjoining the line does not prejudice the future implementation of this route. Similarly, any structures proposed to be introduced across the route should be designed to accommodate future twin tracking or OLE. This is known as passive provision. 7.341 In that context, applicants within 50 metres of the proposed Link are encouraged to consult Network Rail and operators at the earliest opportunity. 7.342 Contributions may be sought from development sites along the route of the EWR Aylesbury Link that are likely to benefit from proximity to stations along its route and the increased rail connectivity it will afford those sites. Princes Risborough to Aylesbury line 7.343 The Princes Risborough to Aylesbury line is currently a single-track line serving Monks Risborough and Kimble stations. Double tracking of this line was identified by Network Rail in their West Midlands and Chilterns Route Study 2017. This scheme would provide an increase in service capacity and therefore support the increased rail demand expected due the forecast housing and economic growth in Buckinghamshire. 7.344 The Council strongly supports the mid to long-term aspiration of Network Rail to double track the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury line. Albeit at an early stage of planning, it is appropriate to ensure that development adjoining the line does not prejudice the future implementation of this scheme. 7.345 In that context, applicants bringing forward proposals within 50 metres of the branch line are encouraged to consult Network Rail and operators at the earliest opportunity. 7.346 Restored land linked to these two national transport projects will need to be carefully managed to maximise benefits for Buckinghamshire residents and nature. The Council will continue to work with partners towards delivering value for money outcomes, where this is within its remits. The Local Plan policies will only apply where there are applications under the Town and Country Planning Act. HS2 and EWR are largely consented through national legislation, which will fall outside the Local Plan.