Report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) attached

This report outlines the Council’s proposed response to the Design Refinement Consultation (DRC) being carried out by HS2 Ltd. on the western leg of Phase 2b of HS2 (Manchester-Crewe). The consultation seeks views on updates to station designs at both Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, in addition to a route alignment change, in order to reduce the impact on the existing train care facility at Ardwick,  and to facilitate the integration of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) at both Piccadilly and Manchester Airport high speed stations.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director, Growth and Development that informed the Committee and the Executive of a Design Refinement Consultation (DRC) being carried out by HS2 Ltd on the western leg of Phase 2b of HS2 (Manchester-Crewe). The consultation sought views on updates to station designs at both Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, in addition to a route alignment change, in order to reduce the impact on the existing train care facility at Ardwick, and to facilitate the integration of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) at both Piccadilly and Manchester Airport high speed stations.

The report outlined the Council’s proposed response to the consultation. The draft response was attached as an appendix and should be read in conjunction with the report.

The main points and themes within the report included: -

·                Providing and introduction and background to the report;

·                Describing the context of the response; and

·                Providing a summary of the main issues to which the city continued to seek resolution, and which the Council and its partners expect further collaborative engagement on.

The Committee heard from Councillor Lovecy, Member for Rusholme ward. She described that local Councillors continued to oppose the proposed location of the vent shaft on Fallowfield Retail Park. She stated that this would have a detrimental impact on local schools; it would result in the loss of a Park and Ride scheme that would have an adverse impact on air quality. She stated that the current proposal would also result in a loss of local retail provision that would have a negative impact on the local community. She stated that these arguments, in particular that from the local schools needed to be strengthened within the response.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·                Supporting the local Councillors in opposing the ventilation shaft that was still proposed to be located on Fallowfield retail park and that alternative, more appropriate sites should be considered by HS2 ltd;

·                Supporting the call for an underground station to be built at Piccadilly station;

·                What more could be done to support the case of the Council; and

·                The views of the Economy Scrutiny Committee needed to be taken into consideration and reflected within the response.

The Leader stated that it was important to continue to argue for the need to build an underground station at Piccadilly to accommodate HS2 and address issues of capacity at the site, noting that a surface station would be inappropriate. He further commented that the design of the HS2 Airport Station needed to be fully integrated with local development plans and existing planning policies, including Metrolink and Northern Powerhouse Rail. 

The Head of City Centre Growth & Regeneration stated that discussions continued with HS2 Ltd to discuss the issue of the planned ventilation shaft that was still proposed to be located on Fallowfield retail park. She described that alternative locations had been suggested however these had been rejected on the grounds of visual disamenity and antisocial behaviour.

The City Centre Growth and Development Manager informed the Committee a summary would be provided in response to the consultation however individual responses would not be provided to issues raised. She stated that officers and Members would continue to work and engage with HS2 Ltd to seek to influence the design. She advised that she was aware that a local MP had requested an urgent meeting with Ministers to discuss the issue of Fallowfield retail park and the location of the vent shaft.

The Head of City Centre Growth & Regeneration advised that having regard for Councillor Lovecy’s comments the response would be reviewed to strengthen the points that she had addressed. The Strategic Director, Growth and Development further commented that the views of Committee would also be incorporated into the final submission.

Decisions

The Committee:-

(1)      Recommend that having regard for the views and comments expressed by the Committee and that of the local ward Member, Section 8 of response relating to the Birchfield Road Ventshafts be reviewed to reflect the opposition of schools to these proposals. 

(2)      Having regard to recommendation 1, endorse the recommendation that the Executive:

·      Note the proposed refinements within Manchester in the HS2 Design Refinement Consultation;

·      Note and comment on the City Council’s draft submission in response to the consultation; and

·      Delegate authority to the Strategic Director – Growth & Development, in consultation with the Leader and Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport, to finalise the response and submit to HS2 Ltd.