HS2 in Camden

In line with Government direction, work to construct the HS2 station at Euston was paused on 9 March 2023 due to inflationary pressure and the need to find a more affordable design. A copy of the Transport Secretary’s statement is available online here.

On 4 October 2023, the Government announced that it would be redirecting funding from HS2 to other transport projects around the country but restated its commitment to completing Phase 1 of HS2 between Birmingham and London, with a rescoped Euston station. The Government will appoint a development company, separate from HS2 Ltd, to manage the delivery of Euston Station and the wider development.

Whilst options for the delivery of Euston are explored, HS2 Ltd continues to complete enabling works across the HS2 site and other activities to make the sites safe while the main construction work is paused. Some work between Euston and Old Oak Common will also be rephased along with other sections of the HS2 project. Please find below more details about the works at the Euston station, Euston Approaches and Adelaide Road Headhouse and Ventilation Shaft sites.

We apologise for any disruption caused by the pause in HS2 works in Camden and we are working to minimise impacts as far as possible.

Where we can safely, we will remove any temporary road and bus stop closures and move hoarding lines to reduce the impact on the community. We are also opening up parts of the site not currently needed for construction for temporary community use.

In July 2023 we opened a temporary garden at the National Temperance Hospital site on Hampstead Road. Further spaces will be opened, following engagement with the community, throughout 2024. Further information about temporary uses can be found here.

Euston is changing to enable construction of a future HS2 terminus. To keep taxis in full operation during this transformation, there will be temporary changes to the way passengers access the taxi rank.

Euston station’s new taxi rank will open in April 2024, located in the former Euston Square Gardens East directly in front of Euston Station.

From 7th April, Taxis (Hackney carriage) will pick up and drop off at the front of the Bus Station adjacent to Eversholt Street and Euston Road. The new location maintains direct access to and from Euston Station and new signage will be in place and station staff available to help guide passengers to the new location.

Key features of the new taxi rank include:

• Improved signage and wayfinding to and from the station concourse
• New planting and green features
• Overhead canopies
• Widening of junction to improve pedestrian crossing
• A new passenger help point
• 36 ranking spaces
• 120 cycle spaces

For those who require mobility assistance, the Assisted Travel Lounge will remain in its current location in Euston Square Gardens West and the current service remains unchanged. Staff will be on hand in both locations to provide directions and assistance.

The Southern end of Euston Square Gardens West will become a temporary green open space, whilst maintaining a walking route through to Euston Station.

Learn more about temporary uses at Euston

Air quality is affected by construction in several ways: by exhaust fumes of construction vehicles and effects from road closures and diversions making some roads busier. 

HS2 will seek to reduce traffic impact to the local community through a range of considerations and will monitor air quality in the wider area around Euston. 

Efforts to reduce traffic impacts: 

• HS2 have strict emissions criteria requirements for engines of contractors’ vehicles. 
• HS2 have set emissions criteria requirements for the engines of non-road mobile machinery e.g., excavators, large cranes and piling machines. 
• Establishing a traffic liaison group including HS2, Camden Council and emergency services. 
• Using designated lorry routes on A roads where possible and minimising the use of local roads. 
• Routes for large goods vehicles must be approved by Camden Council where there are more than 24 large goods vehicle movements per day to or from a compound. 
• Producing Local Traffic Management Plans with Camden Council, TfL and emergency services before the start of work. 
• Requiring lorry drivers to be trained in reducing emissions, as part of their ongoing Certificate of Professional Competency training while on the project. 
• Requiring construction vehicles to use a booking management system, to smooth flow of traffic and avoid construction vehicles queuing on the road. 

How are we going to measure air quality? 

High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd and its Contractors are required to undertake air quality and dust monitoring, and produce monthly reports, to comply with the Code of Construction Practice (CoCP).  

These reports present the monthly air quality monitoring undertaken each month for HS2 within local authorities along the Phase One Route. 

The reports contain monitoring data and interpretative results and include a summary of the construction activities occurring; any complaints received; the data recorded over the monitoring period; any periods in exceedance of agreed trigger levels; the results of any investigations; and where the HS2 works have been found to be the source, any action taken to resolve the issue and to prevent a recurrence.  

In Camden, we are monitoring nitrogen dioxide at 67 locations using diffusion tubes. Air quality monitoring began in summer 2016 to establish a baseline and will continue during construction for as long as it is necessary to manage significant effects. 

Indicative measurements of construction dust (as particulate matter PM10) using continuous monitors is being used to manage dust during construction and ensure appropriate mitigation is in place. 

The construction work for HS2 is likely to create noise and vibration that will affect some residents living near worksites. 

We will design and construct HS2 in ways that reduce noise as much as we reasonably can. In certain circumstances, where construction noise from HS2 is still likely to affect you in your home, we may offer to install noise insulation for you, or pay for you to install it yourself. 

We are surveying listed buildings around Euston, to prepare for consent applications. These additional consents are only required for listed buildings – those protected by law because of their heritage or architectural interest. 

Find out more

HS2 works in Camden have impacted trees in various locations including St James’s Gardens, Euston Square Gardens, and numerous roads within the borough. We recognise that many of the trees that we need to remove are established mature trees which cannot be fully replaced.

We understand the importance of trees to residents in Camden and will use all reasonable endeavours to reduce impacts on them where possible, and to retain trees in the borough. This includes planning construction works so that we can retain trees for as long as possible and providing replacement trees to help mitigate for the loss of each tree removed as a result of HS2 works.

During the select committee process an assurance was given to Camden Council that HS2 Ltd would fund Camden Council to plant replacement trees in appropriate locations in the borough. The full terms of the assurance is available on the register of Undertakings and Assurances on the government’s website here.

To help mitigate the initial loss of trees related to the project, to date, HS2 has funded Camden Council to plant 138 replacement trees. Full details of the London Borough of Camden’s tree planting project is available on their website here. Here is a map of trees planted on Camden Council land to date.

HS2 Ltd has established the Camden Tree Panel. The Tree Panel is responsible for reviewing and challenging the removal of, and works to, any tree in the London Borough of Camden undertaken by HS2 Ltd.’s contractors. No trees shall be removed, or have works done to them, unless they have been reviewed and accepted by the Tree Panel.

Below is a list of the outcomes from Tree Panel meetings from June 2022 where works to trees or tree removals have been agreed. If you’re interested in looking at the outcomes of a Tree Panel meeting held before the ones listed below, please contact our Helpdesk.

Camden Tree Panel engagement activities

• Tree panel – 13 January 2023
• Tree panel – 5 December 2022
• Tree panel – 28 October 2022
• Tree panel – 30 September 2022
• Tree panel – 26 August 2022: Tree Panel endorsed proposals to remove one tree at the Interim Taxi Rank, remove two trees on Cobourg Street and prune one tree at the Addison Lee compound
• Tree panel – 17 June 2022

These reports present the monthly construction noise and vibration monitoring undertaken each month for HS2 within local authorities along the Phase One route.  

The reports contain monitoring data and interpretative results and include a summary of the construction activities occurring; any complaints received; the data recorded over the monitoring period; any periods in exceedance of agreed trigger levels; the results of any investigations; and where the HS2 works have been found to be the source, any action taken to resolve the issue and to prevent a recurrence. 

Find out more

We recognise that there may be circumstances in which residents are more sensitive to construction noise. In such circumstances specific noise trigger levels and/or alternative noise control measures will be considered on a case-by-case basis to protect residents. Some situations that might require alternative measures include: 

• Residential homes where noise insulation is not a viable option;  

• Night workers;  
• People who regularly work from home and need a quiet environment; and  
• Those that may have a medical condition which will be seriously aggravated by construction noise.  

If you think the above may apply to you, please contact our Helpdesk in the first instance. To progress your application, we may need certain additional information from you, for example evidence that you work from home regularly or medical evidence from your doctor. We will handle all confidential information you provide to us sensitively and securely and in accordance with all relevant legislation and we will only hold it for the time required to progress your case.