Image: HS2 Ltd
HS2, the UK’s new high speed rail network, is the first project to be certified under the BREEAM Infrastructure pilot scheme.
The strategic goals of the project include setting new standards for the construction and railway sectors, and to be an exemplar project in engaging with local communities, sustainability and respecting the environment.
HS2 are helping to trial the BREEAM Infrastructure scheme and committed to use the latest sustainability standard on Phase One of the project, which connects London and the West Midlands with high speed rail services on the first intercity railway to be built north of London in over a century.
In HS2’s Phase One Environmental Memorandum they committed to meeting BREEAM Infrastructure standards for Enabling Works, Main Works Civils, and Rail Systems with the aspiration to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
To ensure they are on track, HS2 have completed the first stage of the assessment: the strategic stage – which sums up our project’s sustainability performance up to when the hybrid bill for Phase One received parliamentary approval.
The assessment demonstrates that HS2 have the right policies, strategies and technical requirements in place and are meeting the commitment of delivering an “exemplar project”. As a client, HS2 have integrated sustainability from the outset of the project and will continue to work with contractors to ensure that sustainable outcomes are achieved.
The credits awarded in this assessment will be applied across all Phase One BREEAM Infrastructure assessments. Completing the strategic assessment has provided a great foundation to the contractors involved to deliver the next two stages of the assessment and meet BREEAM targets.
Project Team
Client – HS2 Ltd.
Assessor (strategic stage) – Swati Singh, BREEAM Manager, HS2 Ltd.