HS2 Ltd has awarded £13,445,843 to 236 community projects on Phase One and Phase 2a over the last six years. Projects in Warwickshire have received £1.79m in total.
The latest figures are revealed in Groundwork UK’s 2023 annual report, which also confirms that £2,023,171 has been awarded to 39 projects between London and Crewe in the last 12 months.
Six projects in Warwickshire have shared £322,211 in funding in the last year.
Starting in 2017, HS2 created the Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) to aid community groups and business partnerships impacted by the construction of Phase One (London to Birmingham) and Phase 2a (Birmingham to Crewe) of the HS2 project. Community charity Groundwork UK independently administer the funds.
In July 2022, Southam in Bloom received a 10k funding boost from HS2 to enhance a series of public green spaces around the town. Formed in 1983, Southam in Bloom has built a series of floral displays on roads leading into the Warwickshire town. Alongside the new floral and bulb planters, the funding was used to establish new pollinator saplings, providing a positive legacy for town residents and local ecosystem for the next 50 years.
In previous years, HS2’s CEF & BLEF scheme has helped build new state of the art facilities as part of the Warwick 20:20 project, constructed new women’s changing facilities for Stockton Football & Cricket Club and contributed £30k towards an outdoor gym in Radford Semele.
Cathy Elliott, Independent Chair of the HS2 Funds said:
“It’s fantastic to be able to report that HS2’s funding programme for line of route communities has awarded £13.4 million since 2017, with over £2 million distributed in the last year to locally-led projects between London and Crewe.
“I have been lucky enough to visit several projects and see the impact of the funding first-hand, such as the opening of brand new playgrounds and thriving environmental regeneration initiatives. It’s clear to see the significant difference the funding makes and how important it is to local communities.”
The CEF & BLEF schemes will provide up to £45m of funding throughout the construction timeline of HS2, supporting community-led projects that improve the environment, such as tree planting and energy efficiency measures. The Funds also support initiatives that bring benefits to local communities, such as the provision of new community facilities or support for local heritage and culture.
