High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Act 2017

<p>On 25 November 2013 the Government published the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill. The Bill confers the powers required to construct phase 1 of the proposed HS2 scheme from London Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street with intermediate stations in West London (Old Oak Common) and at Birmingham Airport. It provides for a connection to the existing rail link to the Channel Tunnel (HS1) but not to Heathrow Airport.</p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>authorisation of necessary works to construct and maintain phase 1 of the HS2 line (powers to carry out these works are conferred on a nominated undertaker (HS2 Ltd.))</li><li>power to acquire land (and limited rights in land) necessary for the works to be carried out</li><li>deeming of planning permission to be granted for the works</li><li>deregulation of works on HS2 (the disapplication of certain powers contained in other legislation)</li><li>railways matters, essentially the application of existing legislation to HS2 and the future regulatory regime for the line </li><li>facilitating works on conventional lines to integrate them with HS2.</li></ul><p>This is a Hybrid Bill, meaning that it has elements of both a Public and a Private Bill. The Bill was given a Second Reading, therefore those directly and specially affected by the construction of the route were able to petition in front of a specially-convened Select Committee on the Bill.</p><p><strong>Background information: Hybrid Bills</strong></p><p>Further information on how hybrid bills are dealt with in Parliament is available on the Parliament website.</p><ul><li><a>About Parliament: Hybrid Bills</a></li></ul>