HS2’s controversial ancient woodland clearance halted amid review

The clearing of ancient woodland to make way for the HS2 high-speed rail line is to be halted while the project is reviewed, the government has announced.

Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps ordered that removals of ancient woodlands for HS2 be stopped during the independent review into the project – unless they are shown to be “absolutely necessary” to avoid major cost and schedule impacts, should the scheme proceed as planned.

Shapps has told HS2 Ltd to review its ancient woodlands clearance programme – and assess what removals can be halted until after the examination of HS2, led by Doug Oakervee, has reported in autumn.

He said he recognised the concerns of local residents and campaigners that “clearing ancient woodland is irreversible”.

There are 34 affected sites in the first phase of the project from London to Birmingham.

Clearance work on eight sites in Warwickshire and three in Staffordshire this autumn has now been halted, the Woodland Trust said.

Shapps said: “There is no sense in hiding the challenges HS2 faces, or masking the difficult decisions that need to be taken.

“So, as Douglas Oakervee’s review continues, we must take a sensible approach and recognise that some works simply cannot be undone later.

Having listened to the concerns of affected residents and Parliamentary colleagues, I have ordered HS2 Ltd to consider what works affecting ancient woodland clearances can be delayed for the duration of the review. This ensures we avoid irreversible decisions without major impacts on cost and schedule. HS2 may be a complex project overall, but I think this request is just common sense.”

Earlier this month, Shapps told Parliament that HS2 is now expected to be completed in 2040 – seven years later than forecast.

The £56bn budget has increased by up to 40% as measured in 2015 prices, but with inflation factored in the expected range is now £81bn-£88bn.

The revised estimates of the expected cost and deliverability of the current scheme have been provided by HS2.

This is separate to the review that Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered into the project in August, which will provide recommendations on whether and how the project moves forward.