For those at the Greater Manchester Green summit, you’ll have heard the sigh that filled the room as Andy Burnham broke the news that HS2 would no longer be built in the North West. It wasn’t an angry or frustrated sigh but one that felt disheartened and let down.

As someone who’s been campaigning hold HS2 to account on its environmental impact, it was a striking moment. For nature and wildlife, this was the best possible outcome. To the people in that room, I expect many saw HS2 as a spark of hope that would lead to something better - that it could provide sustainable transport and regenerate communities. It’s a chasm that has divided people on this project. 

Cheshire Wildlife Trust has long been aware that HS2 was failing nature. Over the years, we worked hard behind the scenes to influence the scheme and ensure the natural environment was properly considered. We designated 10 new Local Wildlife Sites across the line to ensure important habitats were not overlooked. We championed species like the water vole which were heading for local extinction. We even spent a year fact-checking HS2 Ltd.’s nature-loss claims to help put things right.

However, the more we tried, the more it became clear HS2 Ltd.’s plans for nature were fundamentally flawed. It was ultimately a project of its time, one where the climate and nature emergency were seen as more an obstacle than something that needed to be a fundamental part of the design. To put it bluntly, a project that doesn’t support nature isn’t sustainable and never can be.

Yesterday was a win for nature but a source of concern for Crewe and Manchester, where urban regeneration now looks more distant than it did before. Sure, nature will thrive elsewhere but those benefits are not going to be felt in inner-city communities. As a Trust that represents Crewe, Stockport, Trafford and Tameside, we recognise this and want to make sure the conversation doesn’t end here.

HS2 had an underlying disconnect between people and nature but why can’t future infrastructure projects bring the two together? Infrastructure should bring life to our cities, create urban nature corridors and bring wildlife to people’s doorsteps. More importantly, those urban communities need a say in how this has done. It isn’t just a desk-based analysis that’s needed, it’s boots on the ground, knocking on doors and asking people what matters to them and how we can help. We have already made a start with dedicated staff in Crewe and Stockport talking to residents about what they need from us.  

As new opportunities open and as more sustainable transport projects emerge, our politicians need to be far more ambitious. Transport projects need to benefit people, the climate and nature. Cheshire Wildlife Trust is here to support and inspire people to make that vision a reality.

James Melling  

Campaigns Manager at Cheshire Wildlife Trust