KEY FACTS

CLIENT

IM Properties

YEAR COMPLETED

2015

BUILD TYPE

New Build

SERVICES PROVIDED

Expert Witness
Transport Planning
Rail Services

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BWB Consulting was appointed by the IM Group in 2014 to review the impact of the HS2 railway line on the Coleshill Manor Estate which includes their recently constructed headquarters building. The estate lies under the proposed HS2 route so the purpose of this review was to add weight to IM Group's petition against the Hybrid Bill which they had lodged earlier the same year.

We worked in conjunction with FPCR to produce a detailed critique of the HS2 proposals by examining issues such as means of access, landscape & visual effects and public rights of way. Our report was then issued to HS2 together with a detailed list of changes that we were seeking to the proposals.

BWB's Technical Manager Simon Hilditch travelled to London to present the report's findings before the HS2 Commons Select Committee at the Palace of Westminster.

Key Challenges

Shortly before our evidence was due to be presented to the select committee, the HS2 team prompted last-minute negotiations. This led to an agreement between both parties and joint statement being read out by the lead counsel for the DfT.

Following this, BWB collaborated with HS2 in order to resolve many of the concerns and in July 2015 HS2 published the 2nd Additional Provision to the Hybrid Bill and this includes significant changes to the area around the Coleshill Manor Estate. The changes are regarded by all parties to be an improvement on the original scheme.

KEY CONTACTS