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Aerial panoramic view of the Manchester city centre skyline.
Aerial panoramic view of the Manchester city centre skyline.

Crewe to Manchester (Phase 2b – Western Leg)

On Wednesday, 4 October, the Prime Minster announced the UK Government’s intention to cancel the HS2 route north of Birmingham.

The Government also published the Network North command paper which reaffirmed a commitment to better connect Manchester to Liverpool; and to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail, including high-speed lines.

Prior to this decision the Government had introduced the High-Speed (Crewe – Manchester) Bill into Parliament which would have provided the legal permissions to build and operate the route between Crewe and Manchester. Following the King’s Speech on Tuesday, 7 November, the Bill has been ‘carried forward’ into the next parliamentary session whilst the Government develops priorities for Network North and the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Links to Bill documentation including the Bill deposit and two subsequent Additional Provisions are provided on this page.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding remains in place with the announcement stating that safeguarding for Phase 2b will be amended by summer 2024, taking account of any land requirements for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Read further information on how the Government’s announcement affects HS2 property schemes.

The High-Speed (Crewe – Manchester) Bill

On 24 January 2022 the Government introduced the High-Speed (Crewe – Manchester) hybrid Bill into Parliament to seek the legal powers to build and operate this phase of the high-speed railway.

Following the deposit of the Bill, two Additional Provisions were deposited. An Additional Provision is required when further design work to the Bill requires additional land and powers.

The first Additional Provision (AP1) was introduced into Parliament in July 2022, and a second Additional Provision (AP2) in July 2023.

View the Bill

View Additional Provision 1

View Additional Provision 2

View our Information Papers covering topics related to 2b: Crewe to Manchester

Petitioning

A cross-party group of MPs, called a Select Committee, was appointed in December 2022 to hear petitions submitted to Parliament for the Bill, AP1 and AP2. The Select Committee has currently paused work in light of the Prime Minister’s announcement.

Visit the UK Parliament website for further information on the Committee process.

Further information

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