HS2 Ltd Engagement
National Environmental Forum
The National Environmental Forum advises HS2 Ltd on a strategic approach to significant environment effects, including its approach to mitigation. It aims to provide a framework for obtaining input from key environmental stakeholders to inform the scope and methodology for the Environmental Impact Assessment, mitigation proposals and environmental design aims and minimum requirements.
Membership of the National Environment Forum includes:
- HS2 Ltd;
- Department for Transport;
- Other Government Departments; and
- Statutory environmental consultees, e.g. Environment Agency, Natural England and English Heritage.
Planning Forums
Area based Planning Forums consider technical detail relating to the Environmental Impact Assessment including location specific constraints, designs and impacts; spatial planning considerations; and proposals for mitigation (for consideration by relevant Community Forums).
Membership of each Planning Forum includes:
- HS2 Ltd senior management;
- Senior officers from appropriate highway and planning authorities;
- Representatives from relevant stakeholders such as Centro; and Representatives of Network Rail, Highways Agency and statutory environmental consultees as required.
Birmingham City Council is part of the West Midlands Planning Forum, along with Solihull MBC, Centro, Birmingham Airport and the NEC.
A ‘Birmingham City Station Working Group’ has been established as a sub-set to the Planning Forums; it considers specific issues relating to HS2 station development such as land use, infrastructure, access, connectivity, investment, funding and implementation. Membership of the Group comprises representatives of HS2 Ltd, City Council Officer, Network Rail, and Centro.
Community Forums
HS2 Ltd has set up Community Forums along the length of the proposed route to provide local communities with the opportunity to have influence as more detailed route plans and blight policies are being developed. In particular the Community Forums have a remit to make specific local recommendations on mitigation and solutions and to identify local benefits and activities that could be linked to HS2. Whilst many Community Forum attendees are members of the public, meeting are not open to the general public and attendance is by invitation only.
Two Community Forums have been established that are of relevance to people within the City, as listed below. A link is provided for each that directs to the HS2 website, which provides the agendas and records of each of the Community Forum meetings.
Curzon Street to Washwood Heath
Castle Bromwich and Bromford