News on HS2 in Northants

Nine Northamptonshire projects share nearly £400,000 as the total number of projects supported along the HS2 route reaches 100

The number of community and business groups to receive awards from the HS2 community and business funds has topped over 100, with Northamptonshire receiving funding for nine projects, mainly to improve community facilities such as children’s play areas and village halls, sharing £396,124 of the total funds awarded. The Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) for Phase One, between London and the West Midlands, make a combined total of £40 million available to local communities and businesses disrupted by the construction of HS2.

Amongst Northamptonshire's nine awarded projects is the £75,000 grant which went to the Boddington Parish Council for a community playground at the Charles Cowper field, part of a £425,000 scheme to improve the area including the village hall.

A map of all awarded projects is available here . Some awards in Northamptonshire include:

Two awards for the Thorpe Mandeville Village Hall Trust - £4,650 for the internal refurbishment of the village hall and £31,000 for building repairs and improvements

£70,560 for the refurbishment of Eydon Village Hall

£20,592 for Evenley Parish Council to be used for various projects in the village including replacing football goal posts, replacing footpath gates, erecting a village sign and making improvements to the village hall

£38,881 for a new play area in Croughton, Northampton

£75,000 for the Chipping Warden and Edgcote Parish Council for a new play area in Chipping Warden

£75,000 for a new play area in Boddington at the Charles Cowper Field.

As we work through the COVID-19 pandemic, the approval for the next stage of the project has meant that our contractors now have the go ahead to start building the new railway whilst remaining within the Public Health England (PHE) and industry guidelines. As part of our commitment to being a good neighbour, we realise that communities are affected by the construction of HS2, and the community and business funds are key to help offset the disruption caused.

As construction of HS2 gets underway, applications for the funds are still being welcomed. The Funds for Phase One, administered by community charity Groundwork UK, support urban and rural, community, environmental and business projects. Community and Business groups along the HS2 route between London and the West Midlands have been able to apply for funds since March 2017.

A series of videos and case studies about projects that have received HS2 funds can be found here.

The independent administration of these funds is managed on behalf of HS2 Ltd by the charity Groundwork who will ensure both funds remain available for applications throughout the construction of Phase One. Read the Groundwork annual review.

Community and business groups interested in applying for the fund can find out more at www.hs2funds.org.uk

Posted on 28th April 2020

by HS2 in Northamptonshire