Latest news

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 Birmingham 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 This website has now been archived.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 Birmingham 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

For more information please see the following notification: https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-gpr-surveys-lawley-middleway-and-surrounding-roads/

Upcoming utility surveys

We will be carrying out utility trial hole surveys in locations along sections of Aston Church Road, Warren Road and Chartist Road between Monday 23 August and Thursday 26 August, dates are subject to the progress of the surveys programme.

To complete the utility trial hole inspections, we will use a vacuum excavator, which uses compressed air to loosen or agitate the ground. The loosened material is then removed using the vacuum on the machine creating a hole. At times we will also use hand digging tools to excavate the trial holes. Once the surveys are carried out, we will backfill and reinstate all the trial holes.

These surveys will help us to plan where utility diversions will be required as we prepare to construct the railway in Birmingham.

Overnight road closure and temporary traffic lights

To be able to carry out these inspections safely and effectively, we will need to put in place temporary traffic lights on sections of Aston Church Road, Chartist Road and Warren Road on 23 and 24 August.

We will also need to put in place an overnight road closure with a diversion route along a section of Aston Church Road on 25 and 26 August.

The temporary lights will be operational from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The road closure with diversion route will be operational from 9:00pm to 5:00am. Access to properties and businesses will be maintained at all times.

For more information please see the following notification: https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/notice-of-utility-surveys-aston-church-road-warren-road-and-chartist-road/

Join the HS2 mailing list to continue to receive updates from HS2 about the project

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

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 about HS2’s roadshow programme, visit hs2.org.uk/roadshow-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 .

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

The virtual one-to-one meeting for the Saltley area will take place on:

During a 20-minute slot you will be able to talk with the team from HS2 & BBV about the construction plans for the Saltley area.

These one-to-ones will be undertaken on Microsoft Teams Meetings and once registered for your chosen slot, we will send you ‘Join Microsoft Teams Meeting’ link to join your meeting by laptop or mobile device.

Registration for these slots will close 2 hours before the start of the meeting to allow us to send you dial in details ahead of your appointment.

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 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 more information please see this Notification - Postponed Curzon Trial Holes July 21

For more information please see this Notification - Rescheduled Aston Church Road Trial Holes July 21

Please follow this link to read the notification - Notice of drainage inspections Aston Church Road

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel.

This is the fourth in a series of webinars focussing on Building HS2’s West Midlands Stations. The next webinar will be held in early autumn. Please keep

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

There is just one week to go before voting closes in the national competition to name our third Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), which will dig a one-mile twin bore tunnel under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire. Visit www.hs2.org.uk/tbmvoting to cast your vote by June 30 .

Long Itchington Wood Tunnel north portal site

More than 180 entries submitted by people in Warwickshire, asked to nominate the names of women closely associated with the county, were whittled down to a shortlist of three. The three candidates are:

Anne - named after Anne Hathaway, who was the wife of the country’s most famous playwright William Shakespeare. She was born in 1556 and her childhood home nearby in Stratford-upon-Avon was bought by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1892 and turned into a museum. Anne was suggested by a Nuneaton resident.

Dorothy - named after Dorothy Hodgkin, who in 1964 became the first British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Her discoveries included confirming the structure of penicillin, and her work with insulin paved the way for it to be used on a large scale for treatment of diabetes. She died in 1994 in Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire. Dorothy was suggested by a student at Warwickshire College Group.

Mary Ann - named after Mary Ann Evans, better known by her pen name George Eliot, who was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She was born in Nuneaton and her novels, most famously 'Middlemarch', are celebrated for their realism and psychological insights. A North Leamington School pupil suggested Mary Ann.

We are planning to reveal the winning name later this year.

The Long Itchington Wood TBM will begin tunnelling later this year. Operated by our main works contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV), the 2,000-tonne machine will take around five months to complete the first bore of two parallel tunnels. The Long Itchington Wood tunnel means that the ancient woodland above the tunnelling works will not be disturbed and the final section will be a ‘green tunnel' with a soil ‘roof’ built around the tunnel entrance to blend the portal into the natural landscape.

This is the third TBM put to a public naming vote. Our first two machines, Florence and Cecilia, are already tunnelling under the Chilterns and were named after famous local Buckinghamshire women: Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, spent many years living in the county, while Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, a pioneering astronomer and astrophysicist, was born 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

Three names have been shortlisted from over 180 entries submitted by people in Warwickshire, who were asked to nominate the names of women closely associated with the county. The vote is now open, with the online competition running until the end of June . The names are:

Anne - named after Anne Hathaway, who was the wife of the country’s most famous playwright William Shakespeare. She was born in 1556 and her childhood home nearby in Stratford-upon-Avon was bought by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1892 and turned into a museum. Anne was suggested by a Nuneaton resident.

Dorothy - named after Dorothy Hodgkin, who in 1964 became the first British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Her discoveries included confirming the structure of penicillin, and her work with insulin paved the way for it to be used on a large scale for treatment of diabetes. She died in 1994 in Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire. Dorothy was suggested by a student at Warwickshire College Group.

Mary Ann - named after Mary Ann Evans, better known by her pen name George Eliot, who was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She was born in Nuneaton and her novels, most famously 'Middlemarch', are celebrated for their realism and psychological insights. A North Leamington School pupil suggested Mary Ann.

The Long Itchington Wood TBM will begin tunnelling later this year and be operated by our main works contractor for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV). The 2,000-tonne TBM, manufactured in Germany by Herrenknecht, will be around 10 metres wide and will take about five months to complete the first bore of two parallel tunnels.

The Long Itchington Wood tunnel avoids disrupting the ancient woodland located above the tunnelling works. Once the first bore is complete, the TBM will be extracted at the South Portal before being transported by road back to the North Portal to commence the second bore. The final section will become a ‘green tunnel’ - also known as a cut and cover tunnel - where a soil ‘roof’ is built around the tunnel entrance to integrate the portal into the natural landscape.

This is the third of our TBMs that will be put to a public vote to name it, with the first two machines already tunnelling under the Chilterns. They were named after two famous local Buckinghamshire women: Florence Nightingale - the founder of modern nursing who spent many years living in Buckinghamshire; and pioneering astronomer and astrophysicist, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, who was born in Buckinghamshire.

The national vote will close at the end of June, with the winner expected to be announced later in the summer.

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 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

Find out more information about careers and opportunities with HS2 and within our supply chain .

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 more information, visit HS2's air quality webpage or 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.

The work may generate a small amount of noise and dust, but we’ll do our best to keep this to an absolute minimum.

The work will involve excavating a hole to expose the watermain and cutting the pipe to fit a new hydrant and then abandon the length of pipe that is no longer needed.

The work will involve excavating holes to expose the water mains and cutting the pipe to fit a new hydrant and abandoning the length of pipe that is no longer needed. Holes will also be dug at the end of each water main to remove the existing hydrants.

Having assessed how the new railway will affect the water and sewer network, Severn Trent will need to carry out sewer diversion work at the location of Erskine Street running adjacent to the River Rea.

All works will be in a secured area and an increase in construction traffic during the full extent of the works is to be expected to take place between June 2021 to April 2022.

We will do everything to keep noise and dust down to a minimum during the construction of the sewer diversion.

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

Find out more information about joining HS2’s supply chain

Find more details of career opportunities with HS2 and its construction partners

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

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 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

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 .

Western Power Distribution (WPD) will be undertaking trial holes on Duddeston Mill Road at the entrance to Network Rail Saltley Depot. This work includes the excavation of material in a segregated works area and reinstatement. All works will be segregated from vehicle or pedestrian access and sign posted. Any changes to footpaths or vehicle routes will be signposted at location in line with agreed traffic management requirements. Once completed all locations will be put back as new. No outages will take place during the works

We would like to invite you to join a free webinar focussing on the environmental sustainability of both Interchange and Curzon Street Station .

Interchange Station

Our brand new West Midlands stations will be amongst the most environmentally friendly buildings in the world once complete. During this free webinar you will hear from our environmental experts about what BREEAM is, the process for achieving an excellent or outstanding BREEAM rating and how we are designing Curzon St Station and Interchange Station to be amongst the world’s most environmentally sustainable stations.

Birmingham Curzon Street Station

The webinar will be broadcast live on Wednesday 12 May, from 12.00-13.15 and you will be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat.

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

This is the third in a series of webinars focussing on Building HS2’s West Midlands stations. The next webinar, Interchange Station- Building Bridges, will take place later this summer. Please visit our events pages for more details.

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 investigation work will mean that we need to dig in the area on Dorset Road, Saltley.

Full details can be found on works in your area map here

https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/utility-works-masshouse-lane-and-moor-street/

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

Where: Online via Zoom Sign Up Here

PLEASE NOTE:

Parental consent is needed to register.

Parents/guardians are responsible for supervising children during the session but should not appear on the screen for safeguarding purposes.

This session is being led by Wessex Archaeology supported by LM, HS2 and the Council of British Archaeology.

While you’re here…

The Coleshill site is being excavated because it’s on the route of High Speed Two (HS2). The UK’s largest archaeology programme is taking place along this route and has unearthed exciting discoveries.

We would love to know if you are interested in joining regular online sessions for 8 – 16 year olds, exploring the archaeology of HS2 or the archaeology of the Birmingham/Warwickshire area in general.

Sounds good to you?

If you are interested in joining regular online sessions, we recommend coming along to this session.

If you are 18 or over and would like to be involved in supporting the running of the group contact engagement@wessexarch.co.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.

Please join us at one of these events to find out more about :

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 .

These virtual one to one meetings are an opportunity for you to find out more about HS2, what it means for your local area and have your questions answered.

Please join us at one of these events to find out more about:

Visit www.hs2.org.uk/events for details about all events taking place in your area and to register for tickets.

Please note that only one appointment is required, if necessary we can cover a broader update in your virtual one-to-one.

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 will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel. Further joining instructions will be sent to all registered attendees closer to the time.

Watch the first webinar in the Building HS2’s West Midlands Stations series – Designing Interchange Station .

The next webinar will be 'Midlands Stations – Achieving a Sustainable Lifetime Through Design'. Please subscribe to www.hs2inBirmingham.co.uk to be kept informed about this and future sessions, or visit www.hs2.org.uk/events for details of all upcoming events.

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 latest design for the Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge in Birmingham has been revealed and to help us form our final design we're inviting you to have your say on:

The existing viaduct and overbridge carry roads over the National Rail tracks, the River Rea and the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. For the HS2 line to pass through, additional space is required underneath them and they will need to be entirely rebuilt.

Due to COVID-19 we are not currently able to hold face-to-face public events, but we are holding online events to share information about the design and construction of the Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge on:

Please view our information booklet on Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge before completing the online survey . The survey will be available to complete until Monday 15 March at 23:59.

Please also visit our dedicated Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge web page for more 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

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 .

Please note registration closes one hour before each live event starts. 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.

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 please read the notification on our works in your area page or this link here .

The latest design for the Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge in Birmingham has been unveiled and to help shape our final design we're inviting you to have your say . Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge are existing structures that carry roads over the National Rail tracks, the River Rea and the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal, two miles north east of the city centre. Extra space is needed underneath both structures for the HS2 line to pass through which means the existing structures will need to be entirely rebuilt.

Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge are significant structures that span the area and cross other major transport links. Before we begin construction, we are seeking your views on some specific details of the Saltley viaduct and Aston Church Road overbridge. These are:

Sign-up here for our online events to find out more Due to COVID-19 we are not currently able to hold face-to-face public events, but we are holding online events to share information about the design and construction of the Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge on:

Please view our information booklet on Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge before completing the online survey . The survey will be available to complete until Monday 15 March at 23:59.

Please visit our dedicated Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge web page for more 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

Please note registration closes 1 hour before each live event starts. 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.

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 .

Last month we launched our new online jobs board which displays all the current opportunities to work on HS2, within its supply chain. The jobs board is updated daily and already shows a huge variety of vacancies in the local area from apprenticeships to communications and engineering roles.

During the webinar, our main works construction partner for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), will share details of upcoming opportunities that they will be recruiting and discuss the broad range of skills and expertise they are looking for. BBV expects to be one of the largest recruiters in the region over the next two years, forecasting that it will create around 7,000 jobs to deliver its section of the new high-speed rail network.

The webinar is aimed at local people who are looking for work or a change of career. Birmingham-based charity Suited for Success will also attend the event to provide guidance on the support available to those looking to get back in to work after an employment break. Delegates will hear about the breadth of opportunities being created, suitable for those interested in both site-based and office-based job opportunities.

The event will be held from 4-6pm on Wednesday 24th February and delegates are encouraged to register their attendance in advance.

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 .

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

This is the first in a series of webinars we will be running, highlighting the building of our West Midlands stations. The next webinar, Designing Curzon Street Station, will take place in March. Please visit www.hs2.org.uk/events for details of all upcoming events.

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 .

This is the second instalment of our series on the Coleshill Manor site. The first webinar took place in November 2020 and is available to watch now: HS2 In Focus: Archaeology - Uncovering the Medieval manor house in Coleshill, November 2020 webinar

Our team will discuss new finds, including artefacts, garden features and building remains and also highlight how these are helping us to build a greater picture of the manor house. You will be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat option and pre-submit questions when you register.

We also recommend that you watch our previous webinars on the Coleshill site, so that you are up to date on our work so far:

The Archaeology of HS2: Uncovering the stories of Coleshill’s past

HS2 InFocus Webinar: The Archaeology of HS2 - Uncovering Coleshill

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what has been unearthed so far through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel.

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 .

This is the second instalment of our series on the Coleshill Manor site. The first webinar took place in November 2020 and is available to watch now: HS2 In Focus: Archaeology - Uncovering the Medieval manor house in Coleshill, November 2020 webinar

Our team will chat about some of the new discoveries on site, including artefacts, garden features and building remains and discuss how these new findings are helping us to build a greater picture of the manor house. You will be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat option and pre-submit questions when you register.

We also recommend that you watch our previous webinars on the Coleshill site, so that you are up to date on our work so far:

The Archaeology of HS2: Uncovering the stories of Coleshill’s past

HS2 InFocus Webinar: The Archaeology of HS2 - Uncovering Coleshill

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what has been unearthed so far through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel.

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.

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.

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 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 .

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.

3 way traffic lights Aston Church Road new.pdf

Diversions are fully signed and details can be found in this leaflet.

Alterations to bus services will also take place and you are advised to check before you travel at wmnetwork.co.uk during this period.

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 .

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 will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what we are doing through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel .

Even before HS2 starts operating, there are countless environmental projects and innovations occurring up and down the route to protect, preserve and enhance Britain’s precious natural environment.

We continue to undertake one of the largest ecological surveys in the UK. Some of the UK’s most experienced and leading ecological consultants are working with us, and our work is supported with technical input and advice from specialist ecologists.

Visit the HS2 website for more information about our work to manage our impact on the environment .

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 Archaeology of HS2: Uncovering the stories of Coleshill’s past

HS2 InFocus Webinar: The Archaeology of HS2 - Uncovering Coleshill

We will be publishing a video recording of the session online, so if you are unable to attend the event, you will still be able to learn about what has been unearthed so far through a dedicated playlist on the HS2 YouTube channel.

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

On Friday 23 October 2020, sections of the A452 Chester Road (northbound) and A446 Stonebridge Road (northbound and southbound) between Stonebridge Island and M6 Junction 4 were closed to traffic. This closure enabled LM to safely install a bridge deck over the A446.

We’re pleased to inform you that the full closure of the A452 and A446 was lifted on Sunday 25 October 24 hours earlier than planned.

Road users can now travel in both directions along the A452. A temporary 24-hour single lane closure is now in place along the A446 southbound for approximately five days, to allow us to carry out various activities to reinstate the road. Please view the works notification , including maps.

We would like to thank you for your cooperation to allow us to successfully complete this phase of work.

If you would like to find out more about what we are doing in the Interchange area for the remainder of 2020, you can read our most recent HS2 Update 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 .

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

To link the new network with existing routes, we’re building four connecting highways bridges. The first was successfully installed across the M42 in August. To safely install the next bridge deck over the A446, parts of the A452 Chester Road and A446 Stonebridge Road will be closed this weekend.

Sections of the A452 Chester Road (northbound) and A446 Stonebridge Road (northbound and southbound) between Stonebridge Island and M6 Junction 4 will be closed to traffic after evening rush hour on Friday 23 October 2020, and reopen before morning rush hour on Monday 26 October 2020. If work progresses faster than expected, we will reopen the A452 and A446 earlier if possible.

During the temporary closure, diversions will be in place and clear signage will be displayed for drivers. Please visit the Highways England website for full details or view the works notification , including a map.

After this second bridge is installed over the A446, we will also need to carry out various activities to reinstate the road. To conduct these safely, we will install a 24-hour single lane closure and then a road closure. Firstly, we'll install a temporary 24-hour single lane closure along the A446 southbound from Monday 26 October for approximately five days. If the bridge over the A446 is completed ahead of schedule and the A452 and A446 are reopened before Monday 26 October, we will install the 24-hour single lane closure from that point.

To complete our activities to reinstate the road, when we remove the 24-hour single lane closure, we will install a temporary road closure along the A446 southbound from Friday 30 October for one night. Please view the works notification , including maps.

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 .

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 .

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 in the Solihull area. To link the new network with existing routes, we’re building four connecting highways bridges. The first of these new bridges – a 65-metre structure spanning the width of the M42 – was successfully installed in August 2020.

To safely install the next bridge deck over the A446, we will close sections of the A452 Chester Road and A446 Stonebridge Road for one weekend.

Sections of the A452 Chester Road (northbound) and A446 Stonebridge Road (northbound and southbound) between Stonebridge Island and M6 Junction 4 will be closed to traffic after evening rush hour on Friday 23 October 2020, and reopen before morning rush hour on Monday 26 October 2020. If work progresses faster than expected, we will reopen the A452 and A446 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 .

Early works for HS2 are being carried out by a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and J.Murphy & Sons, known as LM. LM has been carrying out works near the A452, A45 and M42 since 2018 . We refer to this area as the Interchange area because it will be the home of the future HS2 Interchange Station .

Located near to the National Exhibition Centre and Birmingham International Airport, Interchange Station will be a major transport gateway for the region, providing high speed rail connections to London, Birmingham and the North of England.

Artist's impression of the new road bridge across the A446

We will now close sections of the A452 and A446 in the Interchange area for one weekend to install the bridge deck over the A446.

Sections of the A452 Chester Road (northbound) and A446 Stonebridge Road (northbound and southbound) between Stonebridge Island and M6 Junction 4 will be closed to traffic after evening rush hour on Friday 23 October 2020, and reopen before morning rush hour on Monday 26 October 2020 . If our work progresses faster than expected, we will reopen the A452 and A446 earlier if possible.

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

Further information can also be found on our dedicated webpage: Improving the local road network in the Interchange area .

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

The new woodlands will be part of our ‘Green Corridor’ which will see up to 7 million new trees and shrubs planted between London and the West Midlands, supporting delicately balanced local ecosystems running through the spine of the country.

Our environmental experts, as well as those from LMJV and Five Rivers Environmental Contracting, will be discussing the works that are taking place before we build Britain’s new high-speed railway. The session will also highlight the efforts we are making to ensure that we carefully manage our impact on the existing natural environment during the construction and operation of the new railway.

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 .

From Monday 21 September there will be road closure in place on New Canal Street. This is to allow some utility diversion works to take place. The road will be closed from the junction of New Canal Street/Fazeley Street to the junction of Curzon Street. Please see the notification on the works in your area page for more details.

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

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 .

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 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 .

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. Visit 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 .

For further details on the traffic management measures we'll have in place, please see our work notification 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 .

Registration for our event is now open.

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

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 .

From 5th July we're permanently closing a section of Birmingham’s Park Street. It's to prepare for the construction of Curzon Street Station, which will be at the heart of the high speed rail network. More details are available on the works in your area page.

The station itself – which recently became the first HS2 station to gain planning approval – will be net zero carbon in operation and will adopt the latest eco-friendly design and sustainable technologies, including capturing rainwater and utilising sustainable power generation, with over 2,800m2 of solar panels located on platform canopies.

It is designed to meet a ‘BREEAM excellent’ standard, which is an industry recognised standard for buildings that reduce energy usage and materials waste and minimise their impact on the natural environment.

HS2 worked with WSP and Grimshaw Architects LLP on the design for Curzon Street, which is inspired by the great arched roofs built by the Victorian railway pioneers. The design takes that inspiration into the 21st Century, ensuring accessibility and a focus on the open space and landscaping around it.

Alongside up to nine high speed trains an hour, passengers will also be able to access the Midland Metro, which runs alongside and underneath the station, while accessible pedestrian routes lead to local bus services, Sprint rapid transit bus services and local rail services from the neighbouring Moor Street station. Cycle parking has also been incorporated, providing space for more than 550 bicycles.

Significant progress has already been made on site. A massive archaeological programme, involving 70 archaeologists, has unearthed the world’s oldest railway roundhouse. Demolitions and ground investigations are preparing the site for construction, and utility diversions are set to begin in the summer.

The Two Stage Design and Build contract will see the winning bidder work closely with HS2 Ltd to develop the detailed design and construction of Curzon Street Station. Contracts are expected to be awarded next year.

Visit the Curzon Street station page for more information about the station and its design.

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 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 .

In order to carry out these works safely, a section of Park Street will be closing permanently from Sunday 5 July. The closure will be in place from the junctions of Masshouse Lane and Bordesley Street (see our works notification here).

This section of Park St is a part of the footprint of the new HS2 Curzon St Station, and so from the 5th of July, it will become a part of the HS2 construction site and not be open to traffic or pedestrians. Destination signs will be altered to reflect the changes that should be followed when approaching the ring road.

Further utility works are also required on Fazeley St from the 29th of June for up to eight weeks. To carry out the utility works safely, we need to manage traffic in the area. This will include a phased road closure on Fazeley Street (see our works notification here for more information). We’ll carry out the works in phases, rather than all at once, to keep disruption to a minimum.

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 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 Archaeology of HS2 – Uncovering the Curzon Street roundhouse , will now be broadcast live from 1pm – 2pm on Wednesday 3 June.  All tickets will still be valid for the session on 3 June, so if you have already registered for the session you do not need to register again .

If you have not already registered but are keen to attend, you can still register your interest in attending this online event .

Hosted by HS2's Historic Environment team, this webinar will focus on the unearthing of what is thought to be the world’s oldest railway roundhouse at our Birmingham Curzon Street construction site earlier this year. The webinar will feature  previously unseen photographs, footage and imagery  captured during archaeological excavations earlier this year. You will be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat option.

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

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 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 .

Find out what we are doing in the Birmingham area, including some of our works, by taking a look at our Birmingham Newsletter .

Preparations for main construction work on HS2 are well underway. Over the coming months we will continue delivering a number of activities including archaeological investigations, ground investigations, utilities work and demolition of buildings from HS2 acquired sites. This will take place across central Birmingham . Click the link above to view or download our HS2 Update: Birmingham, Spring/Summer 2020 for further information about upcoming works in the area.

As previously announced, HS2 has taken the decision to postpone all face-to-face engagement events and meetings due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, we remain committed to being a good neighbour to anyone affected by our work, and have continued to notify local residents about any activities in their area through alternative methods of communication. This includes direct mail, such as the latest newsletters, which we have sent in the post to local residents that are impacted by our works.

Visit the Works in your area page for further detail about current or planned works in Birmingham.

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 .

In our previous notification highlighting utilities surveys on Curzon Street Previous works notification , we stated that there may be requirement for further work in this area in the coming weeks. We can now confirm that there is a requirement to carry out additional works starting on Tuesday 26 May for approximately one week.

There will therefore be a road closure on Curzon Street between the junctions of New Canal Street and Cardigan Street.

What to expect

What we will do

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 Archaeology of HS2 – Uncovering the Curzon Street roundhouse , will be broadcast live from 1pm – 2pm on Thursday 28 May. 

Hosted by HS2's Historic Environment team, this webinar will focus on the unearthing of what is thought to be the world’s oldest railway roundhouse at our Birmingham Curzon Street construction site earlier this year. The webinar will feature previously unseen photographs, footage and imagery captured during archaeological excavations earlier this year. You will be able to ask the team questions via a live Q&A chat option.

Tickets for this event are now open. Register your interest in attending this online event .

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

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 .

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

Over coming weeks we will be holding more online archaeology events to share details of exciting finds from across the line of route. We will publish details of these events, including how to register for tickets, on Friday 15 May. Subscribers to this website will receive an email alert.

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 .

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 Birmingham. This brings all our work notifications in the Birmingham 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 Birmingham 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 .

A map of all awarded projects is available here . Some of the awards in the West Midlands include:

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

Visit the Curzon Street station page for more information about the station and its design.

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 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 .

For more information, please see the updated Moor Street Queensway notification, which includes a map.

This schedule is subject to change depending on site and weather conditions, and evolving measures to combat coronavirus . We’ll keep you informed of any adjustments at www.hs2inBirmingham.co.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 more information, please see the Moor Street Queensway notification, which includes a map showing the appropriate diversions.

This schedule is subject to change depending on site and weather conditions, and evolving measures to combat coronavirus . We’ll keep you informed of any adjustments at www.hs2inBirmingham.co.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 .

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 previously notified you about some utility surveys in central Birmingham taking place in March and April 2020. You can read our previous works notification here.

The programme for the GPR surveys required on Priory Queensway and Moor Street Queensway has been revised. Surveys will now be starting on Sunday 5 April and core working hours are 10pm to 6am. This will require some overnight road and lane closures, as outlined below.

Priory Queensway (overnight road closure):

Expected start date: Sunday 5 April

Expected end date: Thursday 9 April

Moor Street Queensway (overnight phased lane closures)

Expected start date: Thursday 9 April

Expected end date: Thursday 23 April

Please see the full notification of these works in central Birmingham here, including a map, for more detail.

This schedule is subject to change depending on site and weather conditions, and evolving measures to combat coronavirus . We’ll keep you informed of any adjustments at: www.hs2inBirmingham.co.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 .

Work is due to start in early April and will last for 12 weeks subject to weather, site and other conditions. Working hours will be Monday to Friday from 08:00 am to 18:00 pm and Saturday 08:00 am to 14:00 pm. You can view a copy of the works notification demolition at Erskine and Viaduct streets .

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.

For further information about the locations of these works, including a map, you can view the central Birmingham works 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 .

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:

Location of works is shown above. You can access and view the notification diversion of utility cables around Lawley Middleway.

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 .

In October 2019, we informed you about test piling surveys in Heartland Park, the post can be viewed here Test piling in Heartlands . These works were scheduled to take place in November. This post is to let you know that these works are postponed until summer 2020.

The test pile investigations were due to take place at the rear of Heartlands Park, close to Common Lane, Washwood Heath. When these investigations do to take place, they will cause minimum disruption to the local community.

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 .

JABS B8 Football Academy will introduce new weekend football sessions for 25 local young people (aged 13-16), targeting some of the community’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged, including those at risk of exclusion from school, already excluded and disengaged with society.

The sessions will provide a regular, constructive activity within their community, and positive role models in the form of local volunteers who will talk to the young people on a weekly basis, building positive relationships providing guidance. Activities will involve skill development, challenge games and team building. Monthly workshops focused on citizenship and laying the foundations of employability will also be held at a community centre where anyone aged 13-16 can attend.

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 .

Information on the events can be accessed here Events .

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

LM will be carrying out the work between 9am-6pm and expect to be finished in around 1-2 weeks, depending on site and weather conditions. Further information on these works is available my looking at the latest works notification Utilities at Heartlands .

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 or download our Curzon Street Station design information event flyer .

We hope you are able to go along to one of the venues to see the boards, or come along to one of the events to talk to the team.

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 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 Spitfire Advice and Support Services is a charity in Castle Vale, Birmingham. The aim of their ‘Hub of Life’ project is to support Castle Vale Community Library to become a sustainable facility for the community.

The activities delivered through this project will be targeted towards families including those where children face adverse childhood experiences and where children have additional needs such as Autism and ADHD. The project includes specialist activities for children with additional needs, activities to support families and arts and creativity activities.

The Worth Foundation receives £75,000 to provide employment support to people in the Firs and Bromford estate area

The Worth Foundation is a charity and social enterprise. Their Firs and Bromford Enterprise Hub project will create an enterprise hub will provide employment and training opportunities for local people.

The hub will serve as a creative space hosting three enterprises and participants will receive mentoring support by trained youth work staff including:

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 application 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 .

You can find the full details in our latest notice .

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 .

November's issue of our Park Street blog is now live . This month, we look at the development of railways in Birmingham, including more information about the original Curzon Street station.

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 .

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

You can find full details about the works in our latest notice .

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

This is to help us plan future utilities diversions, to help us carry out this work safely we will need to manage traffic in the area. This will involve traffic and pedestrian management on Moor Street Queensway. The diversion route will be clearly signposted, full details are available in our latest notice .

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 .

Full details are available in our latest notice .

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 .

October's issue of our Park Street blog is now live . This month, we look at the variety of plates that have been uncovered in burials at both the Park Street burial ground in Birmingham and the St James burial ground at Euston, and what the significance of these objects may have been.

If you'd like to come and talk to us about our works you can attend one of our local events , or call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

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 .

This is to help us plan future utilities diversion, to help us carry out this work safely we will need to manage traffic in the area. This will involve a temporary closure of Curzon Street. The diversion route will be clearly signposted, full details are available in our latest notice .

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 .

Further to the notification issued earlier this week , the utilities surveys on Masshouse Lane and Moor Street Queensway will not be taking place this weekend .

Instead, we expect to carry out these surveys from Saturday 5 October - Sunday 6 October. This work will require temporary footway closures, as shown in the image below and in the notice we sent out previously.

The utilities installations outlined in the notification will also be carried out at a later date. We will communicate these dates and the required traffic management once they have been re-programmed.

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

September’s issue of our Park Street blog is now live . This month, we explore Birmingham’s legacy as the centre for coffin furniture manufacturing and reveal the historical context of some of the archaeological discoveries unearthed at Park Street Burial Ground.

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

Depending on the results of this work we may need to return to the area during October to carry out utilities installations, this work would take place until early November. Our latest notice details the diversions that will be in place for both sets of works.

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

Heartlands Park is the site of HS2’s future Washwood Heath compound. To prepare the site for construction, we will be carrying out a range of works from Sept 2019 to March 2020, both at Heartlands Park and on the former LDV and UK Mail sites near Drews Lane. This will include putting up fencing, removing some trees and shrubs, and setting up a site compound. A copy of the notice can be accessed via this link . clearance work at Heartlands Park

We will be carrying out work from week commencing Monday 30 September between 9am-6pm and we expect to be finished in approximately twelve weeks, subject to site and weather conditions.

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

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 .

Heartlands Business Park is the site of HS2’s future Washwood Heath Maintenance Depot, where the high-speed trains will be maintained. From Monday 9 September, we will be carrying out ground investigations, in the park, near to Warren Road, Common Lane and Leigh Road, alongside our ongoing demolition work. Core working hours will be 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Learn more by clicking here Ground investigations . The work will be completed in 3 weeks.

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .

Following last year's event this year we will be holding two events in Birmingham for this year's Heritage open day.

With the help of historic images and plans, alongside the current archaeological and historical research that has been a crucial part of the early phase in preparing it to become the Birmingham’s city centre terminus for the new HS2 route, you can gain a sense of ‘Curzon Street : Then and Now’.

During the day, you’ll be able to learn more about the archaeological processes and see some of the artefacts found nearby. Children can also take part in a small replica archaeological dig.

Did you know that one of the biggest archaeological digs in the UK has been taking place right here in Birmingham? As part of the preparations for HS2 an archaeological team from MOLA Headland has been excavating the Park Street burial ground, close to the city centre. They’ve been discovering new information about life and death in Birmingham during the 19th century. As excavations come to a close, the team are thrilled to be at Eastside City Park to share their findings with you.

While you’re here, children can also take part in a small replica archaeological dig, and learn more about the human body from our experts. Visitors will also be able to handle some of the artefacts found at Park Street.

These are both drop-in events and don't require booking.

If you'd like to find out more about Heritage Open Day events happening in your area, you can visit the dedicated website .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

Full details about which roads will be impacted when and the works we will be carrying out are available in our latest notice.

If you'd like to come and talk to us about our works you can attend one of our local events , or call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

There will be lane closures on Moor Street Queensway during this time, so that we can carry out this work safely. You can find full details about these works and the lane closures in our latest notice .

If you'd like to come and talk to us about our works you can attend one of our local events , or call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

You can find out more about the event by clicking on this link Star city, Birmingham , and it will take you to the relevant events page.

£10,000 has been awarded to the 237th Birmingham (1st Castle Bromwich) Scout Group to supply the equipment needed for a new kitchen area, built as part of a wider project to extend the Scout headquarters. The equipment will provide improved facilities to cater for events and also offer young people the opportunity to improve their cooking skills.

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 find out more, visit the Birmingham Museums website .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

There will be impacts on the pavements and roads around Albert Street, Curzon Street and New Canal Street. You can find the full details in our latest notification .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can attend one of our local events or call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

As archaeological excavation of Park Street burial ground for HS2 comes to a close, MOLA Headland Community Engagement Officer, Andy Sherman, explores the hidden historical treasures of the immediate area in a special edition of our blog . If you’d like to explore the often-forgotten gems of Digbeth for yourself, then download our self-guided walk of the area .

Why not explore the historical delights of Digbeth for yourself in our one-hour self-guided walk, available for download or to pick up from one of the following locations:

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

July's issue of our Park Street blog is now live. This month we're looking at the previous excavation at St Martin-in-the-Bullring and how this links to our work at Park Street.

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. Visit the Groundwork website for further information about Groundwork and the funds themselves.

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

Tomorrow ( Saturday 29th June 2019 ) the National College of High Speed Rail is holding their open day from 10am - 2pm at the National College for High Speed Rail Open Day , 2 Lister Street, Birmingham, B7 4AG.

By attending you'll have the opportunity to find out more about the higher education full-time courses available for learners aged 18 and over. At this event visitors will be able to:

Staff from HS2 Ltd will also be present at the NCHSR Open Day, highlighting some of the opportunities Britain’s new railway has to offer including jobs, skills and career prospects.

HS2 Ltd would also like to invite businesses and local communities to attend the Open Day, as specialist staff will be on hand to discuss supply chain opportunities and provide more information on how those living along the route may be able to apply for funding as part of the £40 million earmarked for community and business projects along the route.

We’re also offering free 1-to-1 advice sessions with organisations that can prepare you for work, identify education and training options in your area. To book a personalised session please contact our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Join us for this event on Wednesday 26th June 2019 from 4:30 pm - 8 pm at Washwood Heath Academy - Primary School. Burney Lane, Washwood Heath, B8 2AS

To book a 1-to-1 session please contact our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

This month we have a number of events happening around Birmingham covering a range of topics. You can find the full details for each event on our events page , but here's a quick preview for you:

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

The belated May issue of our Park Street blog is now live. This month we're looking at what we can learn about the lives of people who lived and died in 19th-century Birmingham from the work we've been doing at Park Street.

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

This year on Saturday 8 June we will be at the annual Birmingham City University's Inspired Family Day between 11 am - 4 pm.

You can find us at: The Parkside Building, City Centre Campus, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG

Did you know that one of the biggest archaeological digs in the UK is taking place right here in Birmingham?

As part of the preparations for Phase One of HS2, an archaeological team from MOLA Headland is excavating the Park Street burial ground, close to the city centre. They’ve been discovering new information about life and death in Birmingham during the 19th century, and are thrilled to be at Birmingham City University's Inspired Family Day to share their findings with you.

While you’re here, children can also take part in a small replica archaeological dig, and learn more about the human body from our experts. Visitors will also be able to handle some of the artefacts found at Park Street.

You can also read about our work at Park Street on our archaeology blog .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

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 .

The Pride parade itself starts at midday and you can find out more information at: http://www.birminghampride.com/

You can find full details in our new notification.

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

You can find full details about all these events on our events page .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

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 Birmingham 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 Birmingham 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:

· introduces you to your local Community Engagement team and partners working on our behalf;

· provides maps showing where our key works are in your area;

· informs you about the different ways you can contact us; and

· explains how we’ll measure how well we’re doing against our 10 Community Commitments.

You can find full details on our latest notification .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

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.

Traffic management will be in place week commencing 6 May. To learn more click on this link Aston Church Road for further information and access to the notification.

You can find full details about all these events on our events page .

If you'd like to talk to us about our works you can call our freephone helpdesk on 08081 434 434 .

Demolitions in Lawford Close, Birmingham are due to start soon. click on this link to learn more Lawford Close Demolitions

Continued monitoring and ground investigation work in Bromford area, East Birmingham during April. Click on the link to read the latest notification. Viaduct m6 Bromford

You can download the report here .