High Speed 2 (HS2) - Solihull Council's position statement

In September 2009, Solihull Council's Full Cabinet resolved to support in principle HS2: recognised the need for a station to serve Birmingham Airport and the National Exhibition Centre (noting that this did not preclude a station to serve the City Centre)and stressed the need for a direct link between HS1 and 2 to facilitate direct journeys from the West Midlands to mainland Europe.

In April 2010 the Council made representations to HS2 aimed at strengthening the then proposed Hardship Scheme.

In both instances, the Council's position had cross-party support.

The Council remains supportive of the principle of HS2 and is now awaiting formal consultation on high speed rail and the proposed HS2 route in the New Year. At that time, it will consider all the evidence provided by Department for Transport (DfT) and HS2 and in particular their assessment of the improved connectivity to the northern cities of UK & mainland Europe that high speed rail would bring and its impact on local communities, economies & environments.

During the Spring and early Summer the Council will develop in an open & transparent way, with local interests & stakeholders and through its scrutiny processes, its response to the HS2 consultation. It will take into account all of its potential effects on local communities and all its potential local & strategic environmental, social & economic impacts. The Council will commission its own studies of these matters where it considers DfT and/or HS2 material to be lacking. However it will await receipt of the DfT & HS2's consultation material before deciding whether such work is necessary or appropriate. This is both a proper & prudent approach.