HS2: Camden calls for comprehensive redevelopment of Euston Station and fair compensation as Bill moves to Lords

Camden Council is preparing to petition the House of Lords after the High Speed 2 (HS2) Bill passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

A proposed clause to be included in the HS2 Bill calling for the construction of an integrated Euston Station, put forward by Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Lilian Greenwood MP, Shadow Rail Minister Andy McDonald MP and Camden MPs Keir Starmer and Tulip Siddiq, was rejected by 190 votes to 254 votes.

Leader of Camden Council, Councillor Sarah Hayward, said: “We’re bitterly disappointed that plans for HS2 have been voted through by the Commons. HS2 plans as currently proposed could leave Camden residents and businesses facing decades of construction disruption without adequate compensation.

“We will be urging the House of Lords to recognise that, if HS2 does go ahead, we need commitment to accelerate funding for the redesign of the mainline Euston station and to align its development with the proposed HS2 and Crossrail 2 stations and over station development, to unlock the maximum amount of new affordable homes and jobs around a world-class station.

“We also need the HS2 compensation package to be tailored for urban areas to take into account the disruption cities will face.”

The Council has consistently called for a comprehensive redevelopment at Euston to bring these projects together, if HS2 goes ahead.

Camden Council secured over 100 assurances to mitigate the impacts of HS2 on its residents and businesses towards the end of 2015. This included its membership to a new Euston Station Strategic Redevelopment Board (ESSRB) that will provide advice to the Secretary of State for Transport on the integration, design and delivery of Euston station in its entirety.

The Council is supporting its residents and businesses with the House of Lords petitioning process through two petitioning workshops.