THE Hybrid Bill authorising the next section of HS2, part of Phase 2a, is expected to receive Royal Assent today.
The new Act will allow HS2 to be extended from the West Midlands to Crewe. A second Act is due to follow which will take the high speed line on to Manchester.
Midlands Connect director Maria Machancoses said: ‘Today’s historic milestone will be music to the ears of businesses, investors and travellers alike. It’s heartening to see progress being made, Government must now work to ensure this momentum is maintained and that construction is started on the Birmingham to Crewe leg as soon as possible.
‘While Phases One and 2a are moving ahead apace, and have created thousands of highly-skilled jobs, apprenticeships and unprecedented regeneration, it is essential that an decision is made on the scope of Phase 2b of the project, especially the Eastern Leg of the route between Birmingham, the East Midlands, Chesterfield, Sheffield and Leeds.
‘Any further delay will cause uncertainty at a time where business confidence and job security have been shaken by Covid-19. We in the Midlands and North are clear, we need the whole of the HS2 network to be delivered, in full.’