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Over the past few months, we have introduced a number of improvements to the HS2 website and how we share information with you. As part of this work, we have now moved the contents of the HS2 in Northamptonshire website to the In your area section of the HS2 website.

We will continue to provide local webpages and publish information about the progress of the railway in your area.

We have also published local community landing pages for each section of the route. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area.

We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from us and haven't already registered, please sign up directly at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it. Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

We will no longer use this platform or Commonplace to publish information or issue emails to you. This website has now been archived. You can still access the materials that were originally available on this website by visiting the HS2 in Northamptonshire overview page .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We have published local community landing pages for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area. Over the coming weeks we will be adding further pages and information to each area.

We are now in the final stages of this transition which is expected to be completed by mid-August, however we will write to you again to confirm this nearer the time.

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For more information, please see our notification: https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/hs2-notification-notice-of-relief-road-closure-chipping-warden/

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

There are local community landing pages which have been published for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe, providing information about the HS2 route within each area. We will be adding further pages and information to each area in the coming weeks.

We are now in the final stages of this transition which is expected to be completed by mid-August, however, we will write to you again to confirm this nearer the time.

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Twyford to Greatworth area - Tuesday 20 July, 3pm-7pm

Greatworth to Southam area - Thursday 22 July, from 3pm-7pm

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To mark the Council for British Archaeology's Festival of Archaeology , we are holding a series of free online events so you can get involved and find out more about what treasures are being unearthed as we build the country's new high speed railway. The Festival of Archaeology runs from July 17 - August 1, shining a light on our past and how our ancestors lived.

Subjects we will be covering in the free online 'webinars' include:

We will also be holding our fourth weekend of open days at our Field Museum at St Mary's Church in Stoke Mandeville on Saturday 24 July and Sunday 25 July.

Inside a specially constructed tent the size of a football pitch, archaeologists working on our behalf are currently excavating the remains of the former parish church of St. Mary the Virgin. This is a once in a generation opportunity to excavate the ruins of a medieval church and churchyard. Inside the museum you can ascend the viewing platform for a bird’s eye view of ongoing excavations, as well as displays, films and finds to explore the history of St. Mary’s Church and the amazing archaeological discoveries in the surrounding area.

We’d love to welcome you onto site to explore this fascinating excavation, where you can learn about life and death in Stoke Mandeville over more than 800 years.

Tickets are available to book from 10am on Tuesday July 13 and booking will close at 5pm on Thursday July 22 .

Detailed joining instructions including our Health and Safety statement will be sent to all registered attendees closer to the time.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information please see our notification: https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-archaeology-mitigation-work-and-night-time-lane-closures-a43-southbound/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information please see our notification: https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-short-duration-road-lane-closures-and-diversion-routes-boddington-and-chipping-warden/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information please see our notification: https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/hs2-notice-temporary-traffic-lights-on-banbury-road-b4525-and-closure-of-bulls-lane-greatworth/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information, please see our newsletter: https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/hs2-works-notification-chipping-warden-to-boddington-newsletter-july-2021/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We have published local community landing pages for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area. Over the coming weeks we will be adding further pages and information to each area.

We are aiming to complete this exercise next month (July) and will write to you again to confirm this nearer the time.

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/footpath-diversions-and-temporary-road-closure-update-greatworth-and-surrounding-villages/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

These pieces of work will be carried out in phases and will include full road closure of Welsh Road. For further information please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-works-at-trafford-bridge-edgcote/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We have published local community landing pages for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area. Over the coming weeks we will be adding further pages and information to each area.

We are aiming to complete this exercise in July this year and will write to you to confirm this closer to the time.

We’re asking you to sign up for notifications to continue to receive updates from HS2

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe in our Personal information charter .

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information, please see our newsletter https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/hs2-notification-twyford-to-greatworth-newsletter-june-2021/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We have published local community landing pages for each section of the route between London, the West Midlands and Crewe. These provide information about the HS2 route within each area. Over the coming weeks we will be adding further pages and information to each area.

Once we have moved all of the key pages and information from this website onto the HS2 website later this summer, we will stop updating this website. Visitors to this website will be signposted to the new pages within HS2.org.uk

At this point, we will stop publishing updates to this website and you will no longer receive email notifications from this website.

We are aiming to complete this exercise in July this year and will write to you to confirm this closer to the time.

In addition to moving the local website we are also taking this opportunity to improve our mailing lists and create greater flexibility around how you receive information from us.

We will no longer be using this website or Commonplace to issue email updates to you. Instead, we are asking that you sign up to receive information from HS2 directly. We will continue to produce regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.

If you would like to continue to receive updates from HS2 you can sign up for email notifications at engagement.hs2.org.uk/join-mailing-list . We will ask you to confirm your email address as part of the sign-up process.

Once we have moved across all of the pages and information from this website over to the HS2 website we will stop issuing emails from this website. Instead, you will receive emails directly from us about the parts of the project that you’ve expressed an interest in.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with current data protection legislation and only used for the purposes for which you have provided it.

Find out more about what we will do to keep your information safe on our Personal information charter .

If you have any questions about these changes or would like some help signing up to receive email updates from us please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team, available all day, every day on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

For further information of the road closure please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/hs2-work-notification-notice-of-temporary-road-closure-culworth-road-chipping-warden-june-2021/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To find out further information please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-work-at-the-a43-site-investigations-and-compound-set-up/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information, please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/hs2-update-greatworth-to-thorpe-mandeville/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.ukFor more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To find out further information please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/update-of-works-in-greatworth-to-edgcote/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

A crew of 17 people will operate each TBM, working in shifts to keep the machines running 24/7. They will be supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation. Chalk excavated from the tunnels will be used for landscaping at the south portal site once construction is complete, creating wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats across 127 hectares of the southern Chiltern hills. Find out more about HS2's tunnelling programme .

Named after nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale – a name suggested by local children due to her residence at nearby Claydon House in Buckinghamshire, and chosen in a public vote – the TBM will dig the first of a pair of 10 mile long tunnels under the Chiltern hills and help to safeguard the woodland and wildlife habitats above ground, before emerging near Hyde Heath. A second machine ‘Cecilia’ will launch next month to excavate the second tunnel at the South Portal site.

Built by Herrenknecht, a world leader in TBM manufacturing, at its factory in south-west Germany, the two 170m long machines were transported to the UK in more than 300 separate shipments last year , before being reassembled, tested and commissioned by an expert team of tunnelling engineers at the Chiltern tunnel south portal site, near the M25 to the north-west of London.

The first two TBMs will be operated by main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. Align is recruiting 1,200 personnel in total, including 100 apprentices, to work on this area of the project and are targeting their recruitment and investment in upskilling local people who are currently unemployed, with a particular focus on women, the under 25s and those with disabilities, helping us support the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create employment during the COVID-19 crisis.

More than 16,000 jobs and over 500 apprenticeships are already being supported by the project, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.

The names of the two TBMs were suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon and The Chalfonts Community College, Buckinghamshire, which are close to the tunnel launch site. They were inspired by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern medicine, and pioneering astronomer and astrophysicist, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin.

Some facts and figures about the Chiltern tunnel TBMs :

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

The Funds for Phase One, independently administered by community charity Groundwork UK, support urban and rural, community, environmental and business projects. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/ . You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The fresh look of the educational resources follows on from the introduction earlier this year of a suite of curriculum-linked projects designed to help teachers and parents home schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic when we were unable to deliver our regular programme of STEM workshops and schools were less able to take students 'off-curriculum' for career-themed activities during lockdown.

Created by our Skills, Employment and Education team, the resource pages include plans for STEM lessons which teachers can use to introduce a careers context to regular curriculum lessons. Activities take around 1-2 hours to complete and include using maths skills to work out how to construct a bridge across a motorway, researching the ecology of great created newts to create new habitats and using archaeological information to interpret the history of a site. Pupils also have the opportunity to design a new product to improve the customer experience when travelling by train and use their science skills to create an environmental improvement plan for their school.

We have also included a delivery guide for teachers who would like to run a STEM inspiration day in their school. This includes videos, teacher notes, presentations and worksheets for activities where students can develop their skills through hands-on and team build challenges to inspire them to become EPIC (Extraordinary People Initiating Change) engineers. Students develop their STEM powers, exploring the essential skills that are needed to be successful in a STEM career. Activities are underpinned by examples from the world of work, with students finding out about careers in transport infrastructure as they take on different roles in the challenges.

Activities include 'Stations of the Future': a team-based design-and-present activity where students compete to design a futuristic train station considering future trends and the needs of all customers and also tunnel building, where students design, construct and test a supporting structure for a cut and cover tunnel.

We have also introduced STEM projects accredited by the British Science Association, which, when completed, can be entered for a CREST Award. These are longer projects aimed at inspiring pupils to become scientists and engineers that encourage students to carry out independent research or investigation. The target age and duration of the projects vary.

The updated online resources also include activities adapted for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to encourage them to think about pursuing STEM careers. Downloadable lessons for SEND students include working in teams to design a train station, learning about ecosystems and building an insect hotel, and preparing for independent rail travel through role play.

Younger students aged between 7-11 can also get involved in shorter activities ranging from making rail tracks from everyday materials, solving puzzles and planning a railway route.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To find out further information please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-work-at-the-a43-site-investigations-and-compound-set-up/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To enable this to be carried out safely we will need to have a full road or a lane closure (traffic lights) between 09.30am until 3.30pm. This is to allow ecologists to safely observe and where necessary climb roadside trees to check for habitat.

For further information on the closures, please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-short-duration-road-lane-closures-and-diversion-routes-boddington-and-chipping-warden/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

As some of these works will need to be carried out on or adjacent to the carriageway, we will need to put in place two-way temporary traffic lights between 9.30am and 3.30pm, on Banbury Road and also three way lights on the B4525 at the Greatworth Hall junction.

For further information please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-temporary-traffic-lights-banbury-road-and-b4525-greatworth/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

For further information please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-archaeological-excavation-works-lower-boddington/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

For further information please see our notification and diversion routes at https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-work-at-the-a43-site-investigations-and-compound-set-up/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

For further information of the closures please see our notification https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/hs2-notification-notice-of-road-footpath-closures-appletree-lane-surrounding-area/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic and in response to Government guidance on social distancing it is not possible to engage directly with community groups in the usual way.

We have therefore created a virtual exhibition to share our design for the viaduct and to seek your feedback . Click on the image below to visit the virtual exhibition and explore the design proposals in detail.

We are also holding online information events or 'webinars' where our team will provide a presentation on how the design and construction works are developing and will be available to answer any questions you may have via a live Q&A.

These online 'webinars' have been set up to give the local community the opportunity to hear from the team designing and building the railway in your area. The events are being held on two dates. Please select which date to you would like to attend when registering:

KDEs are structures along the route of the new railway that have been recognised to be important. This could be due to their size, proximity to stakeholders or their location within sensitive areas. The design for the viaduct has been developed with consideration for technical and structural requirements, as well as the impact on its surroundings.

A viaduct is a type of bridge, made up of multiple spans and connecting two points of terrain. On this project they will carry the high speed railway across valleys, rivers, roads and flood plains. Modern high speed trains travel at around four times the speed of Victorian trains so they require a flatter, straighter track, passing over and under the natural landscape. Modern viaducts have to cope with large longitudinal forces due to the braking and traction of high speed trains. They require stiff and strong supports, known as piers, to transfer the braking load forces from the train, which can be as much as a 770 tonnes load, to the foundations.

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Further information can be found here https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/hs2-notification-notice-of-road-closure-culworth-road-chipping-warden-12th-april/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Due to the reduced width of the road, we will need to close the road during off peak times in order to carry our works safely. The closure will take place at off peak times (Tuesday 6 April to Friday 9 April, 9.30am-3.30pm).

For further information please see our notification:

https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/hs2-works-notification-notice-of-road-closure-appletree-lane-chipping-warden/

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

The new In your area map brings all of our work notifications together on one page, making it easier for you to navigate and ensure you are kept up-to-date on the work we are doing to deliver the new railway. There is also a text only view , which allows you to view the information in a table and filter results for each area.

Each work item, highlighted on the map with a 'hard hat' icon, lets you know:

You can easily see any other works we might be doing nearby, also pinpointed with an icon.

We will be introducing further improvements to the mapping tool and to this local website over the coming months. We will keep you informed of changes as they happen through our regular email notifications and our local engagement events and activities.

We'd like to know what you think about the new mapping tool and ways that we can improve it, to ensure that you can easily find information about the delivery of the railway in your area and how to contact us if you have any questions.

Let us know your views by completing our In your area map feedback survey .

If you have any questions about the recent changes or would like some help using the new interactive map, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For further information please see our newsletter

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information please see our notification

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information please see our notification and diversion routes

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

For further information please see our notification

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For further information please see our notification

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

For further information please see our notification.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

The Funds for Phase One, independently administered by community charity Groundwork UK, support urban and rural, community, environmental and business projects. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/ . You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For further information please see our notification

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

The new digital platform, hosted on the HS2 website  , offers those looking for work or a change of career, the opportunity to search the very latest vacancies with our construction partners and station contractors delivering the London to Birmingham section of the railway. The jobs board allows prospective candidates to search for vacancies by region or specialism, so they can quickly identify opportunities that match their criteria. 

In September 2020, our four main works contractors and two station construction partners estimated that they would create over 20,000 jobs to support the decade-long construction programme for Phase One of the project. The jobs board, highlighting opportunities to work with us within the  supply chain, makes it easier for jobseekers to navigate and find a position that matches their career aspirations.

It has been developed as part of a job brokerage partnership model, bringing together local authorities, enterprise partnerships, charities and employment support services along the 140-mile route of the first phase of the new railway. Job brokerage partners will play an integral role in supporting individuals from local communities, disadvantaged and underrepresented groups into employment on the project, in line with objectives set out in our Skills, Employment and Education Strategy.

We have already supported 13,000 jobs, including more than 400 new apprenticeship starts and over 550 previously unemployed individuals. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we and our contractors also supported over 100 work experience placements to ensure that individuals are actively engaged with the programme and have the very best opportunity to capitalise on future career openings. 

The start of main construction works last year was a catalyst for the project, spearheading £12bn of contract opportunities which British businesses are beginning to bid for.  As our tier one contractors begin procuring suppliers and services required to deliver their work packages, the number of job opportunities will increase. This heightened demand has created new career pathways and long-term career prospects for individuals at all levels, in both blue and white-collar roles.

Please click here for more information about HS2’s job brokerage programme, or to search for vacancies on the new job platform .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The online resources were created as a result of us being unable to visit schools to deliver our regular programme of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workshops because of Covid-19 restrictions and also schools being less able to take students 'off-curriculum' for career-themed activities due to the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Our Skills, Employment and Education team has created plans for STEM lessons which teachers can use to introduce a careers context to regular curriculum lessons. The activities are expected to take 1-2 hours to complete and are aimed primarily at 11-14 year-olds. Lessons include using maths skills to decide on how to construct a bridge across a motorway, researching the ecology of great created newts to create new habitats and using archaeological information to interpret the history of a site. There are also longer STEM projects and workshops available online, where students can develop their skills through hands-on and team build challenges to inspire them to become EPIC engineers.

During the past year, five HS2 colleagues have become Enterprise Advisors for schools for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our work with these schools revealed a demand for STEM activities adapted for SEND students, to encourage them to consider STEM careers. Online lessons for SEND students include working in teams to design a train station, learning about ecosystems and building an insect hotel, and preparing for independent rail travel through role play.

Younger students aged between 7-11 can also get involved in shorter activities ranging from making rail tracks from everyday materials, solving puzzles and planning a railway route.

For more information and to download guides and worksheets, visit our learning from home educational content web page .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The planting initiative is part of our extensive Green Corridor programme, designed to create a network of bigger, better-connected, habitats and new green spaces for people to enjoy. 430,000 trees have already been planted across Phase One and up to 7 million trees will eventually be planted along this part of the route, with many new grasslands, meadows and recreational areas for local communities.

This short video highlights progress so far in the delivery of the Green Corridor.

Through Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire , advanced planting and woodland compensation planting is being undertaken at West Hyde and Horn Hill, Wendover Dean, Aylesbury, Calvert and near the village of Ladbroke, by specialist ecology and landscape companies.

In Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands , 60,000 trees will be planted at locations around South Cubbington Wood, Ashbeds Wood, Fulfen Wood, Ravenshaw and Broadwells Wood. A broad range of tree and shrub species will be planted to reflect each local area , including oak, hazel, birch, holly and hawthorn. This builds on the 80,000 trees already planted in the Midlands, with 40 ponds and many acres of wetland, heathland and meadow also created across the region.

In West Ruislip , planting will create new woodland areas to provide connected habitats for bats . Trees being planted include field maple, hornbeam, hazel, holly, bird cherry, mountain ash, yew and spindle. There will also be areas of grassland and ponds created to protect local biodiversity and create new homes for a mix of wildlife.

These areas will quickly develop to create new opportunities for wildlife and people, bolstering local wildlife corridors by linking with existing woodlands and other habitats. New wildlife habitats in a variety of locations also include badger setts, bat houses, bird boxes, reptile banks and bug houses to help local wildlife populations thrive.

We have developed a new online map showing where we are delivering Green Corridor activities and highlighting our additional funded environmental projects along the route. You can view relevant Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) projects, the Woodland Fund, other local panel funds, and our environmental works in your area.

The Green Corridor Prospectus accompanies the map, outlining how the Green Corridor and associated funding can benefit communities. Used together, these tools will enable community and environment groups to identify local opportunities to enhance and enjoy the natural environment using the funds available.

Funding is available for a wide range of independent environmental projects to benefit nature and communities along the route , including creating new parks and play facilities, investing in green spaces in urban areas, regenerating areas along canals, and conserving and enhancing the historic environment. By working in partnership with organisations and individuals, the Green Corridor will deliver a positive, long-term legacy for the natural and historic environment , and for people and communities across the country.

On Phase One and Phase 2a, the £7m HS2 Woodland Fund is helping local landowners create new native, broadleaf woodlands and restore existing ancient woodland sites. The first £1.25m has been allocated as part of a grant scheme managed on our behalf by the Forestry Commission, supporting 28 woodland projects that will deliver approximately 105 hectares of new woodland and restore a further 68 hectares of ancient woodland.

For more information about funding available and how local groups can apply please visit www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/hs2-green-corridor

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For further information please see our newsletter

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

View and download the Community Engagement Progress Report: January to June 2020 report. A collection of all our reports to date can be found on the HS2 website .

We will continue to publish these reports on a regular basis.

As part of our commitment to conserve and enhance Britain’s natural environment as we plan and build the railway, HS2 is creating a Green Corridor along the route, a network of joined up habitats, landscaping and community-based environmental projects.

We have developed an online map showing where we are delivering Green Corridor activities and where additional HS2 funded environmental projects are being delivered along the route. You will be able to use the map to view relevant Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) projects, the Woodland Fund, other local panel funds, and HS2 environmental works in your area.

We have also published a Green Corridor Prospectus to accompany the map. The prospectus outlines the many ways the Green Corridor and associated funding can benefit communities, for example, through the creation of new play facilities, investment in green spaces in urban areas, regeneration along canals, and conservation and enhancement of the historic environment.

Used together the Prospectus and the online map will enable community and environment groups to identify local opportunities to enhance and enjoy the natural environment using the funds available.

As you will know there are a number of grants available to support environmental projects and improve green spaces in your constituency, such as the HS2 Community & Environment Fund and the Woodland Fund. If you would like to know more about how local groups can apply for funding please visit www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/hs2-green-corridor .

We are committed to providing you with information about what construction activities will be happening in your area and when. Our construction forward looks include information on construction, environmental and survey activities planned over the next three months. The latest edition is available to view and download on the works in your area page .

Please note that the dates and information included in the forward look may be subject to change as the programme develops and any changes will be updated in the next edition of the forward look.

As a reminder, over the festive period the HS2 Helpdesk will continue to operate all day, every day , including Christmas Day and bank holidays. You can contact us for free on 08081 434 434, by Minicom on 08081 456 472, or by email at HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

We received 457 replies and our Survey Response Document summarising these has now been published on our website .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For further information please see our notification

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.

Boddington Parish Council is the latest to benefit from a grant from the HS2 Community and Environment Fund (CEF), receiving £51,175 for new cycling facilities at the Charles Cowper Field.

Images courtesy of Boddington Parish Council

The funding will be used to create a new bikeability training area to help youngsters learn to cycle safely on-road, and also how to ride on off-road tracks. A separate adventure trail has already been built for more experienced cyclists. The tracks will provide a structured approach to deliver life-long cycling skills for the members of the parish and the surrounding villages, increasing the independence and confidence of young people and encouraging lapsed riders to return to cycling.

The project has been funded through a successful application to our Community and Environment Fund and the Parish Council also received funding from British Cycling and South Northamptonshire Council to complete the initiative. This is the second successful application from Boddington Parish Council to the Funds, following an award of £75,000 in 2018 for a new community play area.

Images courtesy of Boddington Parish Council

To date, nearly £8 million has been awarded from the Funds across 130 projects near the HS2 route. In Northamptonshire, 13 projects have benefitted, sharing £599,276 between them. The projects range from rebuilding the clubhouse at Brackley FC to a recently announced project funding a minibus service for residents in the village of Greatworth.

Community and Business Funds

As construction of HS2 gets underway, applications for the funds are still being welcomed. Our Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) for Phase One are worth £40 million. They give local communities and businesses disrupted by the construction of HS2 the opportunity to receive funding of up to £1 million for projects to improve their local area or support their local economy.

The Funds for Phase One, independently administered by community charity Groundwork UK, support urban and rural, community, environmental and business projects. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/ . You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

More details about the sequence of works can be found here

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

The Funds for Phase One, independently administered by community charity Groundwork UK, support urban and rural, community, environmental and business projects. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/ . You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For further information please see our notification

If you have question about HS2 and our works please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org. uk

Set low into the landscape, the 515 metre-long Edgcote Viaduct will carry the railway across the floodplain of the River Cherwell, south of Chipping Warden. Between six and eight metres high, the viaduct will be supported by 20 pairs of concrete piers and from a distance, will be largely hidden by existing hedgerows and woodland.

Proposed design for the Edgcote Viaduct

The viaduct passes close to the site of the medieval Battle of Edgcote. Fought on 26th July 1469, during the Wars of the Roses, the battle is thought to have taken place on the nearby Danesmoor. Initial archaeological investigation along the route of the viaduct has not found any evidence of the battle, and further investigation will be completed before construction begins.

Two major new wildlife sites will also be created where the viaduct crosses the floodplain, with new and enhanced fen, marshland and meadow alongside new woodland planting. The schemes, which total 7.6 hectares, will create valuable new habitats for insects, bats, newts and other amphibians.

Proposed design for the Lower Thorpe Viaduct

Three more new wildlife sites, totalling 9.5 hectares will be created near Thorpe Mandeville, including a major project to enhance and restore a small lake with new wetland meadow and habitat for birds, butterflies and small mammals. The designs have been overseen by our works contractor EKFB (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial and Bam Nuttall), alongside partners Arcadis and architects Moxon.

Due to COVID-19 we are unable to hold a community information event near to you, so we will be presenting the information through a virtual exhibition room, offering you the opportunity to register for one of our free online information events and the chance to give us your feedback until Sunday, November 15.

Please view our virtual exhibition, find out how to register for our online events and provide your feedback .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For further information please see this notification

If you have question about HS2 and our works please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org. uk

In most cases, our Helpdesk team will be able to answer your question straight away, but if they can’t then they'll work with our local teams in your area to respond.

For more information about our Helpdesk and how to get in touch with us, please visit www.hs2.org.uk/helpdesk

To mark the Council for British Archaeology's Festival of Archaeology , we are holding a series of free online events so you can get involved and find out more about what treasures are being unearthed as we build the country's new high speed railway. The event, now in its 29th year, is being held from October 24 - November 1, shining a light on our past and how our ancestors lived.

If you've ever wondered what an archaeologist does when they’re at work, then or webinar A day in the life of a HS2 Archaeologist on Monday October 26 (12.15 - 12.50pm) is for you!

The session will explore the academic choices and professional job roles which led some of our archaeologists to their careers working on HS2. Hosted by one of our Historic Environment Managers and main works civils contractor CSJV’s Archaeological Lead, this webinar focuses on the careers of Dr Emma Hopla and Dr Emma Tetlow.

They will discuss a typical week in the life of the Archaeological Client and the Archaeological Contractor, as well as some of the exciting discoveries they have made along the way. You will also be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat.

Sign up to attend this free online event via our Eventbrite page

Our second session, An Introduction to HS2 Archaeology: Staffordshire and Cheshire , highlights how our archaeological works on Phase 2a from Fradley to Crewe, which cross north Staffordshire and East Cheshire, build upon our experiences and discoveries from Phase One, revealing new insights and findings about the history of this landscape.

Led by Chris Jordan, our Historic Environment Manager for Phase 2a, this talk will introduce the heritage along the Phase 2a route, including the influence of the landscape, and discuss what we are trying to discover, how we do it, and what exciting finds we might expect over the next few years.

You will be able to ask Chris and the team questions via a live Q&A chat during the online event which takes place on Tuesday October 27 (12.15 - 12.50pm) .

Sign up to attend this free online event via our Eventbrite page

Our final webinar focuses on the archaeological works carried out at St Mary's Church in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire.

An Introduction to St Mary's in Stoke Mandeville on Wednesday October 28 (12.15 - 12.50pm) will be led by Guy Hunt, Partner at LP Archaeology, alongside experts from HS2 and Fusion. Guy and the team will explain how the site is a fantastic opportunity for archaeologists to examine and understand a landscape which has been occupied by humans for thousands of years, dating back to the Bronze Age.

The team will be available to answer your questions during a live Q&A chat option.

Please be warned that the presentation will contain images of human remains (skeletons).

Sign up to attend this free online event via our Eventbrite page

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Due to COVID-19 we are unable to hold a community information event near to you, so we will be sharing the information online via a virtual exhibition room. The virtual exhibition room will be available on our Lower Thorpe & Edgcote viaducts page for four weeks from October 19 - November 15, 2020. You will be able to:

Register for one of our online information events and give us your feedback

We will also be hosting three online information events. These sessions will be hosted by our main works contractor, EKFB, who will talk you through the design of the viaducts, how we’re planning to construct them and what we’re doing to manage and minimise our impact on the local environment. You will be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat.

Sign up to attend one of these free sessions via our Eventbrite page .

The online events are being held on three dates, please select which date to attend when registering:

We will be running this session via Microsoft Teams Live Events, which is a free to use online platform. If you have the Microsoft Teams app installed on your desktop or mobile device, the session will open automatically within that. Further joining instructions will be sent to all registered attendees closer to the time.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For further information please see this notification

If you have question about HS2 and our works please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org. uk

For further information please see our notification

If you have question about HS2 and our works please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org. uk

September is an exciting time to learn about the mysteries of the past and how our ancestors lived as we host a series of fascinating online archaeology events as part of Heritage Open Days 2020. In addition, a major three-part documentary will be shown on BBC Two from Tuesday, September 15, exploring the discoveries found in Britain’s largest ever archaeological programme.

Before construction work began, and any track is laid, over 1,000 archaeologists, across more than 60 sites between London and the West Midlands, have been carefully uncovering the secrets of Britain’s past. The BBC series, ' HS2 – The Biggest Dig ' will focus on two major cemetery excavations – one adjacent to London’s Euston station and the other in Park Street, next to Birmingham Curzon Street station – the sites of our two new terminals.

For three years, our archaeologists have been giving TV documentary makers, Lion TV, exclusive access to archaeological sites being excavated as part of the project and the series is presented by anthropologist and anatomist Professor Alice Roberts and historian Dr Yasmin Khan.

The BBC series is complemented throughout September with a number of online archaeology webinars to support Heritage Open Days 2020, highlighting some of the exciting finds uncovered along the route of the new railway.

We're holding the following online events (click on the events below to register):

You can find the full list of our online events at www.hs2.org.uk/events .

We will be publishing video recordings of the session online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn about each topic through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

HS2 - The Biggest Dig will be also be available on BBC iPlayer .

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For further information please see our notification .

If you have question about HS2 and our works please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

You can find the full list of our online events here .

We will be publishing video recordings of the session online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn about each topic through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

For more information about HS2 please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To ensure that the local road network is fit for purpose when the future HS2 Interchange Station is operational, HS2 contractors are expanding and improving the existing network and creating new routes on HS2 land.

On Friday 7 August 2020, junctions 6 and 7A (northbound) and junctions 7 and 6 (southbound) of the M42 were closed to traffic. This closure enabled early works contractor, LM, to safely install a 65 metre bridge over the motorway.

We’re pleased to inform you that the closure of the M42 has been lifted and road users can now travel in both directions. Work to install the 2,750 tonne, 65 metre long bridge, which spans the width of the M42, was completed in just two days and the motorway reopened to road users earlier than planned.

A 448-wheel transporter took just one hour and 45 minutes to move the bridge span 150 metres, where it was affixed to a composite concrete deck to complete the overall bridge structure. Traditional construction methods would have required several weeks of lane closures on both carriageways, followed by additional weekend and overnight closures.

The successful installation marks the completion of the first of four bridges to be built close to the new Interchange Station. It will form part of the major remodelling of the existing road network to improve the circulation of traffic around the HS2 railway line and the new Interchange Station.

We would like to thank you for your patience during this time.

Visit the HS2 website to find out more about the M42 bridge installation .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The Byfield Good Neighbour Scheme in Northamptonshire is a voluntary community village support network. CEF funding for the scheme, which helps neighbours help other neighbours, will reduce isolation and increase community cohesion within this rural community .

The project will support residents with everyday tasks that may have become too difficult to carry out alone, such as shopping, walking the dog, attending doctors’ appointments and household tasks. A dedicated phone line is in operation to coordinate this assistance. To increase social participation and confidence, residents will be able to attend activities within the village by being paired with volunteers, while the scheme will also host regular events to increase multi-generational interaction.

The project will also fund Covid-19 support efforts, including shopping for those who are shielding or self-isolating, delivering groceries and prescriptions for the village. While current events have been suspended due to the pandemic, volunteers have increased their work to combat social isolation through window buddies and a website dedicated to inspiring 'remote together' activities for residents to get involved in.

Community and Business Funds

Our Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) for Phase One are worth £40 million. They give local communities and businesses disrupted by the construction of HS2 the opportunity to receive funding of up to £1 million for projects to improve their local area or support their local economy.

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/ .You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

To ensure that the local road network is fit for purpose when the future HS2 Interchange Station is operational, we are expanding and improving the existing network and creating new routes on HS2 land.

These works will be concentrated on and around Northway Island, on the B4438 and Northway. To link the new network with existing routes, we’re building four connecting highways bridges. The first of these new bridges will span the M42. To safely install the bridge deck over the M42, we will close sections of the M42 for one weekend.

The area between junctions 6 and 7A (northbound) and junctions 7 and 6 (southbound) will be closed after evening rush hour on Friday 7 August 2020, and reopen before morning rush hour on Monday 10 August 2020 . If work progresses faster than expected, we will reopen the M42 earlier if possible.

During the temporary closure, diversions will be in place and clear signage will be displayed along the route for drivers. For full details of the road closures and diversion routes, please visit the Highways England website .

Click here to view the works notification, including a map .

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For further information please see our notification

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

A weekend closure of the M42 is required to install the bridge . The area between junctions 6 and 7A (northbound) and junctions 7 and 6 (southbound) will be closed after evening rush hour on Friday 7 August 2020, and reopen before morning rush hour on Monday 10 August 2020 . If our work progresses faster than expected, we will reopen the M42 earlier if possible.

During this temporary closure, diversions will be in place and clear signage will be displayed along the route for drivers. V isit the Highways England website for full details of the road closure and diversion routes .

For more information about this, please go to our new page, Improving the Local Road Network in the Interchange area .

For more information about these works please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Brackley Town Football Club was founded in 1890 and they currently play in National League North. The team won the FA Trophy at Wembley in the 2017/18 season and have a good record of progression in the early rounds of the FA Cup.

Unfortunately, the clubhouse at Brackley’s St James’ ground burnt down beyond repair in June 2019. The £75,000 Funding will provide Brackley Town with a new and much needed clubhouse for use by staff, players, fans and visitors for many years to come.

HS2 Community and Business Funds

Our Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) for Phase One are worth £40 million. They give local communities and businesses disrupted by the construction of HS2 the opportunity to receive funding of up to £1 million for projects to improve their local area or support their local economy. The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit www.hs2funds.org.uk . You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

We will be publishing video recordings of each webinar online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn how to get your business 'HS2 ready' through on our HS2 YouTube channel. You can find out more information about HS2's local business opportunities here . For more information about this event or any of our forthcoming events please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If your business or community is  near to the line of route between the West Midland and London  and you want to find out more about the funding programme and local business opportunities available through HS2, please sign up to our event below. 

We will be publishing video recordings of each webinar online, so if you are not able to listen live you can still learn about the funding and business opportunities available through on our HS2 YouTube channel.

You can find out more information about the HS2 Community Funds here  and  local business opportunities here .For more information about this event or any of our forthcoming events please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on  08081 434 434  or email  hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The public is being invited to go to https://www.hs2.org.uk/tbmvoting/ and vote for their favourite name, from a shortlist of three chosen by local school children and inspired by female scientific and medical pioneers.

The names are:

The name with the most votes will be given to the first TBM, due to be launched from a site close to the M25 early next year. The enormous, 2,000 tonne, 170m long machine will be one of two that will dig the 10 mile long Chiltern tunnels.

The second machine, due to be launched a month later, will be given the second most popular name in the public vote.

The TBMs will be operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV – a joint venture formed of three companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

The machines are being built by Herrenknecht in Germany. Their names are being chosen now so they can be fixed to machines during their manufacture, ready for when they emerge out of the factory.

After completion the first two machines will be disassembled before beginning their long journey to England. Once they have arrived on site, each TBM will be reassembled, ready to begin their life underground.

Together the TBMs will spend around three years digging what will be the longest and deepest tunnels on the project, stretching from just inside the M25, to South Heath in Buckinghamshire.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The report is available to view and download here .

A collection of all our reports to date can be found here .

If you have any questions about the report, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

We have created a new, dedicated works in your area page , where all the notices for any current or ongoing works are shown, broken down by geographic areas within Northamptonshire. This brings all our work notifications in the Northamptonshire area together on one page, which makes it easier for you to navigate and easier for us to ensure all the notices are kept up-to-date.

The website landing page has changed so that our menu of pages are now shown, making it easier and quicker to find what you need. We've also added new pages and information on the following popular topics:

We will be continuing to update these pages as our construction activity in Northamptonshire progresses.

Our community websites are intended to provide you with relevant, local information about HS2 works and developments in your area. We would like to hear your views about our community websites and ideas you may have for improving them. To let us know your views, please complete our short online survey before 11:59 on Friday 29 May. The survey contains 7 questions and should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.

If you have any questions about the recent changes or would like some help using this website, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Welsh Road closure update

Diversion route for Welsh Road West closure

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

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

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

You can find further information on both gov.uk and the HS2 website .

The four contractors along the phase one route – SCS Railways, Align JV, EKFB JV and BBV JV – will start the second stage of their contracts immediately, progressing detailed design, site preparation works and placing important sub-contracts. During this period, our contractors are continuously reviewing their ability to work within Public Health England guidelines to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce and the communities in which we are working.

We understand that some local communities are concerned about the impact of construction and we remain committed to being a good neighbour to anyone affected by our work.

You can find out Information about HS2 construction works during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic here.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you contact us by post there will be an extended delay in us receiving and responding due to the current circumstances.

Our Helpdesk Team will be in regular contact with community engagement managers, and will be able to put you in touch should you need to speak to your local team.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Construction compound near Thorpe Mandeville and Sulgrave

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

We’re inviting primary schools close to the HS2 line of route to sign up for a free safety workshop that teaches children about the importance of staying safe around construction sites. Safety is one of our core values and we’re working with Arc Theatre to deliver Playing it Safe , an interactive workshop.

Playing it Safe has visited over 5,000 pupils so far since its launch in 2018 to teach them about the dangers present on construction sites and the surrounding areas, as well as the consequences of trespassing on those sites.The workshop is available to Years 5 and 6 with audiences of between 30 and 90 pupils, with each session lasting between 60-75 minutes. Arc Theatre can deliver up to two sessions in one school per day. The workshop is completely free of charge, but limited and offered to schools closest to the route. If you would like your local school to take part in this workshop please ask them to contact Nita@arctheatre.com or call 020 8595 8509.

For more information about our safety programme or the wider HS2 project you can contact our HS2 Helpdesk team team all day, every day on:

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

For more information click here

The Eydon Village Hall refurbishment project will make the building fit for purpose, replacing damaged flooring and upgrading electric, lighting and security systems. Kitchen and toilet facilities will be updated to bring them to a modern and inclusive standard and doors will be improved to enhance security. Lighting and stage equipment will be modernised to meet the needs of the local drama group, enabling them to use the stage twice a year for their summer play and Christmas pantomime.

Evenley Parish Council will support a small number of projects centred around the village green, cricket pitch and traditional village hall. The project aims to encourage health, fitness and comfort for residents, providing a sustainable legacy to improve the community environment for all ages.

The village hall will be improved with a new boiler and oven, replacement skylight and redecoration of the kitchen and cloakrooms, while a pair of steel football goals on the green will replace the previous plastic ones. A new cricket roller will also be supplied. A heritage sign will be placed at the entry to the village on the edge of the green to welcome visitors and residents. The sign will have brackets, so that cricket matches and events can be publicised. Footpath gates will make parish footpaths more accessible, replacing two of the less accessible stiles with kissing gates, and footpath signage will be improved.

Our Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) for Phase One are worth £40 million. They give local communities and businesses disrupted by the construction of HS2 the opportunity to receive funding of up to £1 million for projects to improve their local area or support their local economy.

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/ .

You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Further to our post on the 2nd January, there's now just four days left to have your say. You can view the plans on the HS2 website and download an information booklet , before completing our quick online survey . The survey closes at 11pm on Thursday 30 January.

Common Design Elements are parts of the railway with a standardised appearance which will give it a recognisable look and make it more efficient to build. They include frequently used structures, such as bridge piers and parapets, as well as lineside noise barriers.

Since Parliament approved plans for the Phase One route in 2017, we've been developing the design of the new railway and now we need your views to help inform how we progress with the Common Design Elements.

If you have any questions about our Common Design Elements or HS2, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on  08081 434 434  or email  hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

You can view the plans on the HS2 website and download an information booklet , before completing our quick online survey . The survey closes at 11pm on Thursday 30 January.

To find out more and let us know your views by completing the survey, please go to  www.hs2.org.uk/common-design . 

If you have any questions about our Common Design Elements or HS2, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on  08081 434 434  or email  hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The Thorpe Mandeville Village Hall Trust's project will develop and repair the community building to ensure it is fit for purpose for the future. The CEF funding will go towards re-tiling and insulating the roof, installing an efficient and environmentally-friendly heating system and resurfacing the path and yard to provide safe disabled access.

Chipping Warden and Edgcote Parish Council receive £75,000 for play area and outdoor gym

Chipping Warden and Edgcote Parish Council's recreation ground project will see the installation of a full range of multi-use play and outdoor gym equipment, providing a safe and accessible activity area for the whole community. It will be suitable for all ages, from pre-school children to the elderly and designed with the heritage of the village and local conservation area in mind.

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, click here .

You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Please click here for dates and further information

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Edgcote

Greatworth

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Radstone to Thorpe Mandeville

Thorpe Mandeville to Boddington

Boddington to Southam

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Please click here for our construction newsletter to give you an update on our works.

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

The report is available to view and download here: https://www.hs2.org.uk/documents/community-engagement-progress-report-january-to-june-2019/

If you have any questions about the report, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Full road closures and diversion

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

You can find further details about these works on our notification which includes what to expect and how we manage any impacts. This will include traffic management starting from 30th October.

Please see maps and diversions:

Single lane closure

Full road closure and diversion

Closure on Wheel Drive

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email HS2enquiries@HS2.org.uk

Visit the HS2 website to find out about the stations we will serve.

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Please contact us if you want to find out more.

Please contact us if you want to find out more.

An introduction to the scheme for residents has been published on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-prolonged-disruption-compensation-scheme/prolonged-disruption-compensation-scheme

Full guidance will be published in late autumn 2019 in advance of the start of the Phase One main construction works.

If you are eligible under this scheme we will contact you in advance of the construction works to discuss your options and provide more information about the application process.

In the meantime if you have any questions, please contact the HS2 Helpdesk on 08081 434 434 or hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

For more information please click here

How we can help

Our team is here to listen and help with any enquiry, complaint or feedback you may have. Our Helpdesk team will try to answer your questions in the first instance. If we need to talk to other people in the company to provide a full response, we’ll make sure we investigate your query with the relevant people at HS2 Ltd and respond at a later time.

If you would like to see our complaints procedure or you’re not satisfied with how your case is being dealt with, further information can be found here .

You can also contact our Helpdesk if you think you have a damage claim related to HS2.

Join us to learn more about the archaeology uncovered by HS2 in your area. Click here for more information

You can find out more information on the British GT Championships at Silverstone here.

Community groups and business support organisations are being encouraged to apply to the Funds for projects that have a demonstrable positive impact on their local community.

A combined total of £40 million has been made available for both the CEF and BLEF projects for Phase One of the construction of HS2. The Funds will provide support for good quality bids and funding will be available throughout this time period. CEF and BLEF have supported 62 projects since March 2017 from small scale grassroots projects to large scale capital projects which benefit a wide range of communities.

For more information on Groundwork and the funds themselves click here .

You can also see an interactive map showing all of the projects awarded funding so far by clicking here .

Our Community Engagement Strategy outlines all the ways that we’ll engage with people and communities that are affected along the route.

We’ve written the Northamptonshire Local Area Engagement Plan to explain how we’ll deliver our Strategy in your area. It sets out how we‘ll engage with communities in Northamptonshire to ensure that we meet our commitments and continue to be a good neighbour. This is particularly important in 2019 as we begin our main construction work.

This plan:

More details about the sequence of works can be found in the works notice here.

You can also keep up to date and read more project news in Northamptonshire here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Read the report here , including case studies of how funding is supporting towns and cities along the Phase One line of route.

For more information on Groundwork and the funds themselves click here.

You can download the report here .

To find out more about the Woodland Fund and how to apply you can visit the Forestry Commission website by clicking here

We appointed Arc Theatre to deliver Playing it Safe , an interactive health and safety workshop designed for primary schools along the Phase One route of HS2. The workshop uses drama to communicate the dangers present on construction sites and the surrounding areas, as well as the consequences of trespassing on those sites.

Playing it Safe has now taken place at more than 50 schools, teaching over 4000 pupils how to stay safe when living near construction sites.

The workshop is available to Years 5 and 6 with audiences of between 30 and 90 pupils, with each session lasting between 60-75 minutes. Arc can deliver up to two sessions in one school per day.

The workshop is completely free of charge, but limited and offered to schools closest to the route. If you would like your local primary school to take part in this workshop please ask them to contact Nita@arctheatre.com or call 020 8595 8509 .

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

You can keep up to date and read more project news in Northamptonshire here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

More details about the sequence of works can be found in the works notice here.

You can find out more about our plans in this area here.

You can also keep up to date and read more project news in Northamptonshire here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

To view the presentation please click here.

More details about the sequence of works can be found in the works notice here.

You can find out more about our plans in this area here.

You can also keep up to date and read more project news in Northamptonshire here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

You can find out more about Marston St Lawrence by visiting http://marstonstlawrence.org.uk/map.html .

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds themselves click here .

You can also see an interactive map showing all of the projects awarded funding so far by clicking here .

To view the presentation please click here .

Chipping Warden drop in

More details about the sequence of works can be found in the works notice here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

More details about the sequence of works can be found in the works notice here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

More details about the sequence of works can be found in the works notice here .

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

As part of HS2’s preparation works, the following presentation was shared with residents in Wardington

together with questions and answers regarding our plans for traffic management.

You can find out more about our plans in this area here .

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HS2 enquiries team on 08081 434 434 or via HS2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Meet HS2 Contractors at our information event below. You can also find out more about our plans in the northants area here

https://www.hs2.org.uk/documents/community-engagement-progress-report-january-to-june-2018/

If you are phoned by an interviewer from Ipsos MORI asking for your views on whether HS2 is being a good neighbour, please consider taking part. The survey will help us to measure how well we are doing against the commitments in our Community Engagement Strategy and your feedback will also help us understand where we need improve.

If you have any queries regarding the survey please visit the contact us page by clicking here.

More details about the sequence of works can be found in the works notice here .

More details about the sequence of works can be found in the works notice here .

To learn more about HS2 Ground Investigations, you can view the video here .

I hope to meet as many of you as possible, but if you would like to talk to me, or if you need any help please get in touch at nisha.mejer@hs2.org.uk .

Fir Tree Nursery works commence today in Boddington. Find out further details here

For information about the new Construction Commissioner, please click here

For information on Safety and Security Support Vehicles Starting in August, please click here

We recently updated our guidance on how to make a complaint to HS2 Ltd. This can be found at this https://www.hs2.org.uk/how-to-complain .

For any urgent issues that may need to be quickly resolved, you can call our 24/7 Freephone Community Helpline on 08081 434 434 .

More information about the appointment can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sir-mark-worthington-appointed-as-independent-hs2-construction-commissioner

If you have any questions please call our Freephone Community Helpline on 08081 434 434 or speak to your local engagement manager.

If you suspect a crime, you should always call 999 or 101.

They will begin in August 2018 and be available for the duration of the project.

Works will be taking place in the Chipping Warden area. For more information please visit our Chipping Warden page.

Works will be taking place on the Heave Cutting near Wormleighton, our latest notification is available on the Boddington page

We have appointed Arc Theatre to deliver Playing it Safe , an interactive health and safety workshop designed for primary schools along the Phase One route of HS2. The workshop uses drama to communicate the dangers present on construction sites and the surrounding areas, as well as the consequences of trespassing on those sites.

The workshop is available to Years 5 and 6 with audiences of between 30 and 90 pupils, with each session lasting between 60-75 minutes. Arc can deliver up to two sessions in one school per day.

The workshop is completely free of charge, but limited and offered to schools closest to the route. If you would like your local school to take part in this workshop please ask them to contact Nita@arctheatre.com or call 020 8595 8509 .

Select the image below for more details: Event Invitation

The full press release and full details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/community-projects-to-benefit-from-45-million-of-hs2-government-funding