Investment will help create 5,500 homes in Kettering and 3,000 in the initial phase of building out a site in Wellingborough. The Developments will generate up to 3,000 jobs.
HS2 is using its scale as the UK’s biggest and most ambitious infrastructure project to set a new benchmark in construction vehicle emission standards around the UK.
The standards will help improve public health outcomes and encourage the UK construction industry to invest in cleaner technology.
All diesel HGVs working the length of the HS2 project will be powered by the cleanest available Euro VI engines, going beyond current standards set here in the UK. Vehicle emission standards, denoted by the “Euro” categorisation, have been set and toughened over recent years and currently all newly-made combustion engine vehicles must comply with Euro VI, the most recent and strictest standard.
By insisting that all HGVs working on the project comply with the project’s standards, HS2 Ltd hopes it will encourage its suppliers to invest in new, cleaner and more efficient vehicles. The company has already introduced the stipulation for HGVs and plans to extend the standard for cars and vans in 2020.
As well as HGVs, cars and vans, a fleet of off-road machinery like diggers, cranes and diesel-powered generators is needed to build the 345 miles of the UK’s new high speed railway.
Currently only London sets any emissions standards at all for off-road machines. However, HS2 is insisting equipment used along the route’s entire length meets the EU Stage 3b standard, rising to less-polluting Stage 4 in 2020.
In the capital’s Congestion Charge Zone HS2 already demands its contractors comply with Stage 4, and will raise it to Stage 5 next year, staying one step ahead of the city’s own emissions standards.
HS2 Ltd’s director of environment, Peter Miller, said:
HS2 is more than a railway. We are leading the industry in vehicle emission standards by exceeding London’s construction industry standards and extending them 345 miles across the country. We are determined to use the project’s scale and duration to help cut the release of harmful combustion engine emissions by stipulating contractors building Britain’s new high speed rail network use the cleanest vehicles and machinery available.
By setting new vehicle emission standards for contractors we will contribute to efforts to improve air quality; and leave a legacy of a new fleet of low-emission HGVs and construction equipment to work on future projects. We also hope our rules influence local authorities along the route to follow HS2’s lead and introduce exacting emissions standards in their area, which would benefit huge swathes of the country.
The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) have found Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in fish at the following sites in England and Wales.
Pippa Britton is a double Paralympic archer having competed for ParalympicsGB at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Pippa has broken three world records and has represented Great Britain at the last six World Archery Championships, gaining a medal at each one – three individual medals, two team golds and one team silver. Pippa is currently Chair for Disability Sport Wales, Vice-Chair of the Sport Wales Board and a member of the Para-Archery Committee at World Archery.
Sarah Winckless MBE is a former GB rower who won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Games and was world champion in both 2005 and 2006. Following her retirement from rowing in 2009, Sarah has chaired the British Olympic Association’s Athletes’ Commission from 2010 to 2014, and was Team GB Chef de Mission at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and is currently performing that role for Team England for the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017 and Commonwealth Games in 2018. In 2015, Sarah was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to Sport and Young People.
These reappointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Pippa and Sarah have declared no such activity.
Published 14 January 2019