Overview

This bill makes amendments to the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act 2017. The key changes relate to land acquisition, traffic regulations, and administrative adjustments, primarily impacting the construction of Phase One of High Speed 2.

Description

The amendments cover various aspects of the 2017 Act:

• Land Acquisition: Clarifies land ownership and acquisition processes, specifically concerning airspace, subsoil, and easements. It streamlines procedures and adjusts timeframes for notices and responses.
• Traffic Regulation: Introduces a new schedule granting the Secretary of State significant powers over traffic regulation orders near the HS2 construction sites. This includes the ability to direct local authorities to make specific orders, vary or revoke existing ones, and even make orders themselves if necessary. Consultation with local authorities is mandated, but the Secretary of State's decisions are prioritized, aiming for efficient HS2 construction. Public inquiries are largely bypassed in this process.
• Administrative Changes: Numerous amendments update references to legislation, correct typos and other minor errors, and adjust technical details within various schedules of the original act.
• Vehicle Removal: Authorizes authorized personnel to remove vehicles obstructing HS2 construction, with notification to local authorities and police.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify an increase or decrease in government spending. However, the amendments related to expedited land acquisition and traffic regulation could potentially lead to cost savings in the HS2 project by streamlining the process and reducing potential delays.

Groups Affected

• Landowners and occupiers near the HS2 route: Changes to land acquisition procedures might affect their rights and compensation.
• Local authorities: The new traffic regulation powers significantly impact their authority over local roads, requiring consultation and potentially limiting their control.
• Businesses using roads near the HS2 route: Changes to traffic regulations could affect access and operations.
• The public: Changes to traffic flow and potential inconvenience from construction will affect the public.
• HS2 Ltd: The changes are designed to expedite the construction process, potentially benefiting the project's timeline and budget.

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