Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to mitigate (a) noise, (b) dust and (c) traffic disruption relating to HS2 works.

The Secretary of State is committed to mitigating the environmental effects of the construction of HS2 and binding Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMRs) are in place that HS2 Ltd and its contractors must follow to limit the impacts of noise, dust and traffic impacts as far as reasonably practicable. The EMRs include a code of construction practice, which sets out a range of control measures, which shall be applied throughout the construction period to ensure effective planning and management is in place to minimise the potential impacts of construction upon communities, businesses and the natural and historic environment.

A copy of the code of construction practice is available here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80104d40f0b62305b88f3b/Code_of_Construction_Practice.pdf

HS2 Ltd also provides a responsive community engagement operation which ensures that residents have quick and simple routes to raise concerns if they feel that the effects of construction are not being managed as they should be, including a 24-hour helpdesk, and quick turnaround times for addressing complaints and queries. The HS2 Construction Commissioner can also intervene if construction issues are not being properly resolved through the HS2 complaints process.