All aboard: HS2 is coming to London

Ahead of its arrival into the capital, the team leading the design and construction of Britain’s new railway, High Speed Two (HS2), is hitting the streets with a brand-new community roadshow.

The roadshow team will visit towns and cities from north to south this summer, as part of a bumper programme of community-focused activity highlighting the thousands of jobs, skills, training and new business opportunities that HS2 is creating.

The HS2 roadshow will make three stops in the capital with pop up events scheduled to take place in Kings Cross on 5th August, Uxbridge on 2nd September and Ealing on 21st September. The events will allow residents and visitors to find out more about the exciting plans, now well underway, to bring Britain’s new railway to the capital at its flagship new station in Old Oak Common and its terminus in Euston. Both locations are being transformed in readiness for HS2’s arrival, spearheading new housing, commercial developments, urban realms and job opportunities which will benefit local people.

Experts from all areas of the HS2 project will be on hand at each event, armed with a wealth of resources to experience during the event or to take away. So, if you’re looking for a new career, or want to find out how your business might benefit from one of 400,000 contract opportunities generated from the first phase of construction works, then head down to the roadshow to find out more.

David Lunts, CEO of Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation said: “Old Oak Common Station will unlock a huge regeneration opportunity, bringing billions of pounds of investment into the local community and the wider UK economy. Our plans for a new, lively district at Old Oak and Park Royal, centred around the HS2 station, with affordable homes, jobs, leisure and community facilities, will bring exciting opportunities for everyone. While planning for the future, we’re investing in the area now, working with HS2 to place the thousands of new apprenticeships and construction jobs locally.”

The roadshow’s first stop will be at Kings Cross Square, adjacent to Kings Cross Station, on Thursday, 5th August. The outdoor event, which starts at 07:00 through to 20:00, will centre around HS2’s giant cubed-shaped exhibition space. HS2’s events team will work alongside local community representatives to advise and support those looking for a new career, training or business opportunity.

The second stop on Thursday, 2nd September is an outdoor event in Uxbridge. The roadshow will be based between The Pavilions and The Chimes shopping centres, close to Uxbridge Underground Station from 09:00 to 19:00. Local residents can find out how to apply for funding for local projects through HS2’s community and environment (CEF) and business and enterprise (BLEF) schemes, as well as learning about local jobs and business opportunities.

HS2’s final stop on the London leg of its summer roadshow will be on Tuesday, 21st September, when the team hits Ealing’s vibrant urban quarter Dickens Yard. Residents and shoppers can find out more about HS2’s plans for the new West London super-hub station at Old Oak Common, which will include stunning green spaces alongside proposals for a small wetland and public event spaces. Construction of the super-hub will support over 2,300 jobs, including 200 apprenticeships – and visitors to the roadshow can find out how they can get onboard.

Tony Weston, Head of Projects and Events at HS2 said: “We want Britain’s new railway to be designed and built by communities as diverse as those it will serve.

“We have an important role to play in the country’s economic recovery, so it’s more important than ever that people know how to get on board and benefit from the careers, training and new business opportunities that HS2 is creating.

“Our roadshows will allow us to get to the heart of communities and we’re looking forward to sharing information about our plans and letting people know how to keep in touch.”

HS2 is already playing an integral role in the Government’s drive to build back better from the pandemic. Over 16,000 people are currently employed in jobs supporting construction of the railway. And as HS2’s journey North begins in earnest, following the green light from Government to extend the railway to Crewe, HS2 will help to level up Britain by spreading prosperity and growth right across the regions.

In early 2022, or sooner if possible, HS2 Ltd will submit a hybrid Bill to parliament seeking powers to extend the HS2 network to Manchester. This will improve connectivity for millions more people in the Midlands and the North – right up to Scotland, creating even more opportunities for local people to secure jobs and for British businesses to win work. It’s estimated that construction of HS2 will support over 30,000 jobs and 400,000 contract opportunities – with small and medium sized enterprises expected to dominate the supply chain.

For more information about HS2’s roadshow programme, visit hs2.org.uk/roadshow-2021

Photo credit: HS2 Ltd

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