HS2 has welcomed the granting of planning permission for the design of the green tunnel at Burton Green.
With approval being given by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, the design has focused on making green spaces around the railway bigger and better, with community feedback being given in October 2019 and March 2022. Warwickshire District Council had already granted approval for the southern end of the structure, as the tunnel travels through a 400-metre green tunnel.
The green tunnels will ensure that the railway is hidden, with the roof being covered in landscape planting and new footpaths to ensure that the line is able to integrate sensitively into the surrounding area, whilst also improving local biodiversity. Much of this will come in the form of large-scale tree and shrub planting to enhance wildlife habitats.
Senior Project Manager for HS2, Alan Payne, said:
“We’re delighted to receive Schedule 17 planning consent for the northern section of the green tunnel from Solihull Council. We’re committed to maximising green space around the new high-speed railway and have worked with residents and authorities to ensure our tunnel design conserves, enhances, and transforms the landscape in this area.
“The design for the permanent realignment for the Kenilworth Greenway and the landscape infrastructure created over the green tunnel is central to how we deliver this, linking the local community and railway with the wider landscape.”
Now that Solihull Council has approved the northern section of the tunnel, no more planning approval needs to be sought for that particular stretch of the HS2 project.
The Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture was responsible for the design of the tunnel, which is one of five that are being constructed for the HS2 project. The other green tunnels are situated in Hillingdon, Buckinghamshire, and Northamptonshire.
Image credit: HS2 Ltd
