News on HS2 in Bucks & Oxfordshire

37 Buckinghamshire projects share over £2 million as the total number supported along the HS2 route reaches 100

The number of community and business groups to receive awards from the HS2 community and business funds has topped over 100 with Buckinghamshire receiving the largest share of this with 37 projects, totalling £2,232,688 between them. The Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) for Phase One, between London and the West Midlands, make a combined total of £40 million available to local communities and businesses disrupted by the construction of HS2.

Amongst Buckinghamshire's 37 awarded projects is the biggest single Community and Environment Fund award to date – which went to Forestry England to help towards their multi-million pound Wendover Woods project. The £450,000 award contributed to the build of a new café and toilets, which has provided a valuable facility for visitors.

A £250,000 award for the National Paralympic Heritage Trust in Stoke Mandeville has been announced this month, which will be used to develop a number of events, activities and resources designed to tell the story of the Paralympics and challenge attitudes to disability.

Other projects include two that have received grants from the Business and Local Economy Fund including £120,303 for the ‘Open for Business’ project run by the Chilterns Conservation Board which aims to promote tourism in the central Chilterns corridor, and £75,000 for Buckinghamshire Business First for their Visit Buckinghamshire Business Advisory Service.

As we work through the COVID-19 pandemic, the approval for the next stage of the project has meant that our contractors now have the go ahead to start building the new railway whilst remaining within the Public Health England (PHE) and industry guidelines. As part of our commitment to being a good neighbour, we realise that communities are affected by the construction of HS2, and the community and business funds are key to help offset the disruption caused.

As construction of HS2 gets underway, applications for the funds are still being welcomed. The Funds for Phase One, administered by community charity Groundwork UK, support urban and rural, community, environmental and business projects. Community and Business groups along the HS2 route between London and the West Midlands have been able to apply for funds since March 2017.

A map of all awarded projects is available here . Some awards in Buckinghamshire include:

£243,103 for the ‘Chalk, Cherries & Chairs’ project run by the Chiltern’s Conservation Board

£120,303 for the ‘Buckinghamshire is Open for Business’ project run by the Chilterns Conservation Board

£70,907 for the Carers Trust in Bucks and Milton Keynes to run the Supporting Carers programme

£75,000 to build a new community music space in Buckinghamshire run by the Amersham Band

£74,000 towards the refurbishment of the Wendover Swimming Pool

£23,482 for the refurbishment of the kitchen facility at Waddesdon Bowls Club

70,907 for the Carers Trust in Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes to provide support for carers who’s work may be disrupted by the construction of HS2.

A series of videos and case studies about projects that have received HS2 funds can be found here.

The independent administration of these funds is managed on behalf of HS2 Ltd by the charity Groundwork who will ensure both funds remain available for applications throughout the construction of Phase One. Read the Groundwork annual review.

Community and business groups interested in applying for the fund can find out more at www.hs2funds.org.uk

Posted on 28th April 2020

by HS2 in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire