Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that HS2 Ltd release its plans for the Great Haywood Viaduct in advance of the relevant Select Committee sessions later in 2018.

The design of the Phase 2A scheme to date as set out in the Phase 2A Bill and the Environmental Statement deposited in July 2017 provides the level of detail necessary for the purposes of the Bill and the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2017.

The level of detailed design necessary to enable the scheme to be constructed has yet to be carried out, and is unlikely to be completed until after the Bill has secured Royal Assent.

Once complete, HS2 Ltd will need to apply for approval of the detailed design of various elements of the scheme, which would include the Great Hayward viaduct, from local planning authorities along the route under the planning regime established under Schedule 17 to the Bill. This will ensure that although deemed planning permission for the scheme is granted by Parliament, local planning authorities will be able to approve the detailed design thereby ensuring that the design of permanent structures fits into the local environment.