News on HS2 in Warwickshire

Two projects have been awarded funding in Warwickshire as part of the HS2 Community and Business Funds.

The Water Orton Methodist Church project will upgrade a set of community buildings in the heart of the village. This includes restoration of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, upgrading the community hall and kitchen, and improving the street frontage of the buildings through the creation of a small garden with seating and notice boards.

West Midland Bird Club has managed the Ladywalk Reserve in Coleshill, part of the Tame Valley Wetlands wildlife area, for 50 years. This latest project will see the construction of an artificial sand martin bank on the site as their current nesting place in the reserve’s riverbanks are prone to flooding. The new nesting site will increase breeding success and also provide an accessible location for visitors to observe the birds.

Our Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) for Phase One are worth £40 million. They give local communities and businesses disrupted by the construction of HS2 the opportunity to receive funding of up to £1 million for projects to improve their local area or support their local economy.

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/ .

You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .