Advising on HS2’s journey north

Eversheds Sutherland is instructed on the latest phase of the HS2 development

Eversheds Sutherland has been instructed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and HS2 Ltd to advise on the latest stage of the development of the HS2 network.

A team from Eversheds Sutherland is advising on the latest phase of the project, Phase 2B, with the development of the high speed network between Crewe and Manchester, and connections onto the West Coast Mainline.

Providing a combination of Parliamentary, Governments & Infrastructure, Planning, and Rail experience, Eversheds Sutherland is advising DfT and HS2 Ltd on the on all aspects of the preparation and submission to, and examination by, the UK Parliament of a further Hybrid Bill to authorise the development of Phase 2B, the High Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill. The Bill was introduced in Parliament in January 2022 and received First Reading in the House of Commons on 24 January 2022.

The team is supporting DfT and HS2 Ltd on:

• the strategy for the delivery of a further Hybrid Bill for Phase 2B
• strategic advice on the development of design options for the Phase 2B scheme
• the development of policies to manage the construction and delivery of Phase 2B
• the Parliamentary drafting of the Bill
• the preparation of the Parliamentary plans to accompany the Bill
• advice on compliance with the Parliamentary procedures for depositing and advertising the Bill submission
• the preparation of the Environmental Statement, including advice on the preparation of the working draft Environmental Statement for public consultation
• negotiations with affected stakeholders including railway undertakers, utility undertakers, local authorities and landowners.

 Eversheds Sutherland is acting in collaboration with Winckworth Sherwood on the passage of the Hybrid Bill through Parliament.

A Planning team from Eversheds Sutherland is advising DfT and HS2 Ltd, including: Stephen Collings, Partner & Parliamentary Agent; James O’Connor, Partner & Parliamentary Agent; Paul Maile, Partner; Karen Mutton, Legal Director;John Grimbley, Principal Associate; Darren White, Parliamentary Clerk; David Slevin, Parliamentary Clerk; and Oliver Tomkins, Apprentice Solicitor.

Stephen Collings, said:

“HS2 will become a key part of the UK’s transport infrastructure, providing numerous economic and strategic benefits across the UK and contributing to the levelling up of the economies of the Midlands and the North. This is a key milestone in the development of HS2, and we look forward to engaging with the Department for Transport and HS2 Limited on this latest phase of the journey.”

Eversheds Sutherland has advised DfT and HS2 Ltd throughout the development of the HS2 network, having initially been instructed in 2012 at the beginning of the consents process for the project. The team similarly advised on the development of Phases 1 and 2a of HS2 between London and the West Midlands and the West Midlands and Crewe, and the promotion of the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Act 2017 and High Speed Rail (West Midlands – Crewe) Act 2021 through Parliament, to authorise the construction and operation of Phases 1 and 2A of HS2. Eversheds Sutherland again acted jointly with Winckworth Sherwood throughout this process.