House of Commons Written Answers 7 February 2013

House of Commons Written Answers 7 February 2013: from Hansard.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of the HS2 extension to Leeds on road commuters using the A5 as a result of the redevelopment of junction 10 of the M42; [141600]

(2) what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of the HS2 extension to Leeds on businesses in Relay Park as a result of the redevelopment of junction 10 of the M42; [141601]

(3) what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of the HS2 extension to Leeds on homes and properties in Hockley and Overwoods Road. [141602]

Mr Simon Burns: The initial preferred scheme has emerged from several hundred options as the one considered overall to best meet objectives for passenger demand, cost, ease-of-build, journey time and sustainability. Considerations of sustainability have been integral to scheme design since commencing work on Phase Two in autumn 2010. During this time, the sustainability team has worked closely with the engineers to develop route and station proposals that fit as far as possible with the environment and communities they pass.

However, we are at an early stage in the development of the scheme: more work will be undertaken by HS2 Ltd to refine the alignment and include mitigation such as landscaping and noise barriers, and a number of the impacts will reduce as the designs are progressed.

HS2 Ltd will consult with local authorities, the Highway’s Agency and other relevant bodies to ensure that traffic disruption to the A5 will be kept to a minimum in the event of any redevelopment of junction 10 of the M42.

Mr Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed limits of deviation for High Speed 2 cover land subject to private enactments or secondary legislation. [141675]

Mr Simon Burns: Limits of deviation have not yet been proposed for High Speed 2, this will be done as part of the hybrid Bill submission. As part of this, land included within the limits of deviation will be checked to determine whether they are subject to any private legislation.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much capital towards the building of HS2 he expects to raise from local authorities whose areas will benefit from the new line; and if he will make a statement; [142075]

(2) how he will determine which local authorities benefit from the building of HS2 enough to determine that they should contribute to its capital costs; [142077]

Mr Simon Burns: The Government intends to offer local authorities, and their public and private sector partners, opportunities to contribute to the HS2 programme so that they may secure valuable benefits for local people and local businesses. The nature of those opportunities, and the contributions made, may take a wide range of forms reflecting varied local circumstances. We do not intend to prejudice the outcome of future discussions and negotiations.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of households in Warrington North constituency which would be adversely affected by the proposed route for High Speed 2. [142109]

Mr Simon Burns: If the line is built along the initial preferred route, then in the Warrington North constituency area 21 properties would be demolished, of which four are residential. A further three properties would be at risk of demolition. We have no estimate of the number of properties which may be affected in other ways.