Phase One of HS2 railway given Royal Assent
Thursday 23rd February 2017
Frays Farm Meadows - threatened by HS2
The first phase of the High Speed Two (HS2) railway between London and Birmingham was given Royal Assent on 23 February 2017.
Since 2010 London Wildlife Trust has sought to reduce the impacts of HS2 on wildlife habitats in London.
Significant changes were subsequently made to the railway’s design, with much of the line east of West Ruislip now contained in tunnels, but the HS2 railway and its construction will still have considerable impact on wildlife habitats in and around New Years Green, Harefield and the Colne Valley in west London, as well as at Adelaide Nature Reserve in Chalk Farm.
Construction of the railway could also adversely impact three London Wildlife Trust nature reserves: Frays Farm Meadows and Denham Lock Wood (both Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and Dews Farm Sandpits.
The Trust is working with partners on the Colne Valley Regional Park Panel to develop a mitigation plan for the railway’s impacts in the valley, in addition to HS2’s proposals to mitigate for the ecological and social impacts of the railway.
We will continue to engage with HS2 to protect our nature reserves. If we cannot prevent damage to these precious wildlife sites we will vigorously fight for appropriate compensation, to ensure that nature as a whole is not diminished in the area.