HS2 and community projects

On 25 January 2018, the first recipients of the High Speed 2 (HS2) Phase One Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) were announced.

Community projects located along the new HS2 route will receive a cash boost of more than £245,000, as part of a £45 million government pledge.

The purpose of both CEF and BLEF is to support local economies and communities that will be affected by the Phase One construction of HS2 (between London and Birmingham).

The HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani announced an extension of the scheme, with an extra £5m intended to assist communities along the HS2 Phase 2a route (from the West Midlands to Crewe).

The first organisations to secure CEF local grants are:

• Castlehaven Community Association in Camden, London: A local community initiative to get more residents engaged in environmental issues.
• Helmdon Acorns pre-school in Northamptonshire: To improve the safety and accessibility of the children’s play area.
• Thorpe Mandeville Village Hall Trust: To resolve damp issues at the village hall.
• Steeple Claydon Methodist Church in Buckinghamshire: To make a number of improvements to the church premises.
• West Euston Partnership in London: To support ‘Healthtrain’, a community-led local health initiative.
• Wormleighton Parochial Church Council in Warwickshire: To install toilets and catering facilities in St Peters Church.

(Ref. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/community-projects-to-benefit-from-45-million-of-hs2-government-funding)

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