An additional £8m of funding has been provided to benefit local communities and woodlands between Birmingham and Crewe. The announcement, which promises to create new woodlands and bring safer local roads to communities and residents, comes as HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani promises to ensure that HS2 sets a new environmental standard for construction projects.

The announcement highlights the following for funding:

  • HS2 Road Safety Fund extended by £6.5m to provide a legacy of road safety improvements.
  • Additional £2m committed to HS2 Woodland Fund to create new native woodlands.
  • Launch of visionary ‘Green Corridor’ to support British countryside.

The HS2 ‘Green Corridor’ will help connect wildlife habitats and native woodlands for the length of the HS2 route – whilst helping landowners along the route between Birmingham and Crewe plant new trees native to the area. It will see more than 7m new trees and shrubs planted within Phase One of the project along – ensuring UK species of trees continue to thrive within our regions – resulting in over 9sq km of new woodlands, alongside bespoke habitats created to ensure bats, badgers, great crested newts and others flourish.

HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani said: ”As we deliver the new high speed railway our country needs, driving forward economic growth and better journeys for passengers, it’s imperative we set a new standard for protecting and enhancing our diverse woodlands and wildlife. HS2’s ‘Green Corridor’ is one of the most significant tree-planting and habitat creation projects ever undertaken in this country. That’s why the government is backing it with an additional £2m for the Woodland Fund to support the creation of native woodland and restore existing ancient woodland sites between Birmingham and Crewe. We’re also committed to putting in place a positive legacy of road safety improvements. An extra £6.5m of funding for local authorities on the Birmingham to Crewe route will ensure communities in the region see and share in the extraordinary benefits of Britain’s new railway.”

The HS2 Road Safety Fund which is also receiving additional backing will ensure that communities along the route will receive additional funding to improve roads for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers – with safety at the forefront of the improvements.

HS2 will unlock huge regeneration and development opportunities with our City Regions whilst enabling the UK to compete better globally – and we’re excited to hear more about the project with every hub and city at the HS2 Economic Growth Conference later this year.