Sustainability
HS2 and the environment: we aim to build the most sustainable high speed railway in the world.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have made the decision to postpone all of our public face-to-face engagement events and meetings for the safety of our staff, stakeholders and communities. We have also put in place alternative ways of communicating and engaging regularly with communities to ensure that we can continue to inform, listen and respond.
The HS2 Helpdesk remains operational all day, every day, and is your first point of contact: Freephone 08081 434 434; Minicom 08081 456 472; Email: [email protected]. If you contact us by post there will be an extended delay in us responding to you.
HS2 and the environment: we aim to build the most sustainable high speed railway in the world.
HS2 is Britain’s biggest environment project, delivering miles of ecological and landscape investments alongside construction. Find out more about the huge scale of environment work and the benefits.
We will deliver a railway that respects the natural environment by conserving, replacing or enhancing wildlife habitats with a new green corridor along the route.
For more examples of how we work at HS2 and the environment improvements we deliver visit our HS2 Green Corridor page about how we enhance both habitats and communities along the route.
HS2 will be a greener way to travel, offering some of the lowest carbon emissions per passenger kilometre and significantly less than cars and domestic air travel.
HS2’s long distance journeys will provide a low carbon alternative to the car or plane. HS2 will be a greener way to travel, offering some of the lowest carbon emissions per passenger kilometre:
Find out how HS2 will support the transition to a net-zero carbon UK economy.
There are 52,000 ancient woodland sites in England. Our published assessments are that 43 will be affected by HS2’s route between London and Crewe. 80% of the total area of the 43 ancient woodlands will remain intact and untouched by HS2. Where an ancient woodland is described as affected, in many cases this means a small section of an overall woodland is affected. For example, on Phase One of the route, 32 ancient woodlands are described as affected but in 19 of these the total area of loss is less than 1 hectare (ha).
In addition, a £7 million HS2 Woodland Fund is available to help restore existing ancient woodlands and to create new native woodlands that connect or extend existing ancient woodlands.
Find out more about HS2 facts and our approach to woodlands.
Our ambition is to build the most sustainable high speed railway of its kind in the world. We want a high speed railway network which changes the mode of choice for inter-city journeys, reinvigorates the rail network, supports the economy, creates jobs, reduces carbon emissions and provides reliable travel in a changing climate throughout the 21st century and beyond.
Find out more about our sustainability policy.