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About HS2

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Information on HS2

High Speed 2 (HS2) is the new railway from London to Birmingham, and further north. The railway’s London terminus will be at Euston.

The High Speed 2 (London – West Midlands) Act was passed in February 2017. This gives the government permission to build the railway. Construction is expected to last until 2033. 

HS2 Ltd has published a Resident's Charter. This sets out 10 commitments to residents and explains the roles of the independent Residents’ Commissioner and Construction Commissioner.

To find out more, and to contact or report a problem to HS2 Ltd, problem please visit the HS2 website:

HS2 in Camden

If you have questions about Camden council’s activities around HS2, please email us at highspeed2@camden.gov.uk

You can sign up for our HS2 newsletter by emailing us at: clt@camden.gov.uk

Overview of HS2 impact

Construction of the HS2 scheme in Camden is set to last 17 years. The expected impacts on Camden include:

Homes

220 homes will be demolished (including 136 council homes), meaning up to 1,000 people could lose their homes. 

Noise

1,300 homes will be affected by noise that needs to be mitigated. Measures are already in place to consider up to another 750 homes. 

Traffic

1.2 million tonnes of demolition, construction and waste material must be removed from e Euston station and its approach during redevelopment. The net effect is up to 800 daily two-way lorry movements in the Euston area during busiest times. 90 per cent of those lorries will be heavy goods vehicles.

Air pollution

An adverse impact on air pollution levels at 78 per cent of 198 of places in the Euston area. This is as a result of the HS2 scheme.

Open space, trees and facilities

St James’s Gardens next to Euston station will be lost. Euston Square Gardens will be closed for the whole time construction takes place. 504 trees are expected to be removed. Community facilities will also be lost. 

Schools

7 schools and 1 children’s centre are in the Euston impact area. 

Businesses

73 businesses will be directly affected by demolition. 145 businesses are within the safeguarding area. This includes those to be demolished. Over 300 further businesses are near to major construction works. 2,915 jobs are at risk of loss or being moved. 

Cost

In 2013 the immediate ‘bricks and mortar’ cost to Camden was estimated to be just over £1 billion. This is costs such as housing, moving of businesses, education and transport. 

Find out about the work we’re doing to ensure HS2 Ltd meets its commitments to Camden. We are looking for further ways to reduce the impact on the borough.

Phase 1 (London to Birmingham) timeline

  • 2009: Report on a national strategy for High Speed Rail
  • 2011: Consultation on the national strategy for high speed rail 
  • 2012: Decision by the Secretary of State for Transport to proceed with high speed rail network
  • 2013 to 2017: Parliamentary process of the High Speed 2 Bill
  • 2017: Royal Assent of the High Speed 2 (London to West Midlands) Bill Act 2017, giving the Government permission to build the railway
  • 2017 to 2033: Expected construction period
  • 2026: First high speed trains are expected to leave Euston