This blog entry provides updates on a number of matters related to HS2's progress though both Parliament and the courts.

Paving Bill

We have already blogged about the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill, commonly known as the Paving Bill, focusing in particular on the committee stage of the Bill.

It has now been announced that the remaining stages of the Bill (report stage and third reading) in the House of Commons will take place on 31 October. The Bill will then transfer to the Lords for consideration there.

As the government comes under pressure to keep its promise to ensure the main Bill is advanced as far as possible during this Parliament, progress on the Paving Bill is vital to achieving that.

Challenges in court

The legal challenge brought by HS2 Action Alliance and several councils has now been heard in the Supreme Court. Having lost the argument in the Court of Appeal, the case now only concerns whether the Government should have carried out a full Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the proposed project.

Counsel for the Department for Transport noted that undertaking a SEA would delay the project for 6-12 months.

The case has now closed and judgment will be released in due course. Lord Neuberger suggested that their lordships may consider that the case raises material constitutional issues which require a separate hearing to which Parliamentary authorities would be invited to contribute.

Batting for the West Midlands

And finally, last week Edgbaston Cricket Ground hosted an event promoting the economic benefits of HS2 to Birmingham with a keynote speech from Birmingham City Council leader, Sir Albert Bore.

Roger Hargreaves, the HS2 Hybrid Bill manager noted that the Bill (and its accompanying documents, we presume!) will be 55,000 pages long. Those wishing to engage with the process would be well advised to set aside some reading time over the holiday period as submissions in respect of the Environmental Statement will be required shortly after New Year.

BDB HS2 seminar on how the hybrid bill process will work for HS2- 27 November 2013

We are holding a seminar on how the hybrid bill process will work for HS2 on 27 November, the details can be found here including how to register.

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