History of Wendover and HS2
January 2009
DfT announces the creation of HS2 Ltd, with a remit to advise on route options for London to Birmingham by the end of 2009.
March 2010
DfT announces the decision to progress detailed planning on the preferred Wendover route option, following receipt of the HS2 Ltd report High Speed Rail – London to the West Midlands and Beyond Part 5 of 11, Section 3.5 "Routes between London and the West Midlands" that also considered three alternatives. This was based on a route engineering report by Arup Route Engineering Study Final Report – A Report for HS2 (Arup, December 2009).
April 2010
Public meeting endorses the creation of an HS2 Action Group.
November 2010
HS2 route mitigation review includes a 300m green tunnel between Bacombe Lane and the Cricket Ground, and rejects a 2.8km bored tunnel (Small Dean to Nash Lee) due to £370m cost.
December 2010
HS2 "Feasibility Study" design published.
BBC Countryfile feature about HS2 impact on Wendover.
February 2011
DfT launch a public consultation on the HS2 plans.
Wendover HS2 open a public information centre in Back Street.
May 2011
HS2 public consultation event at the Memorial Hall.
January 2012
Arup report considers “long tunnel” options from the M25 to Wendover.
Following the consultation DfT confirm the route will pass Wendover, with HS2 route refinement extending the green tunnel north by 1000m from the Cricket Ground to Folly Bridge near Wellwick Farm, making it 1.3km long.
April 2013
HS2 provide draft Environmental Statement Map Books, including track design, noise profile, landscaping and visual images. The ES identifies significant issues of noise at St Mary’s Church and Chiltern Way Academy; groundwater levels "north of the cricket ground"; and traffic restrictions at Small Dean.
Wendover identifies that tunnelling from Durham Farm to Nash Lee could provide "best mitigation" by removing the noise issue, going below (rather cutting through) the water bearing chalk, and avoiding any change to the A413.
May 2013
DfT launch two bills in the Queens Speech. The "High Speed (Preparation) Bill" giving authority to spend money on enabling works and the "HS2 Hybrid Bill" giving authority to construct the railway.
June 2013
HS2 Public Consultation information event in the Memorial Hall about the "draft Environmental Statement" and the "draft Code of Construction Practice".
November 2013
Formal HS2 London-West Midlands Environmental Statement issued for discussion at the House of Commons Select Committee, with Wendover covered by Community Forum Area 10 reports.
April 2014
344 Petitions submitted to the House of Commons seeking extension of the Chilterns Tunnel from Little Missenden to north of Wendover.
Wendover Parish Council also propose 4km of alternative tunnelling from Durham Farm to Nash Lee as a replacement for the "cut and cover" green tunnel. Options include use of tunnel boring machines or classic mining.
September 2014
Environmental Statement Additional Provision 1 issued making land available for the relocation of National Grid pylons at Nash Lee and Grove Farm.
July 2015
Select Committee lengthened the Chilterns tunnel to South Heath, but rejected any further "long tunnel" northern extension. Also discounted Wendover Parish Council’s proposals for mined (or bored) tunnelling between Durham Farm and Nash Lee.
Environmental Statement Additional Provision 2 issued making land available for the relocation of the Wendover cricket ground to Tring Road.
December 2015
Environmental Statement Additional Provision 5 issued, including extension of the green tunnel by 100m south, provision of more noise barriers, and noise mitigation works at St Mary’s Church and the Chiltern Way Academy.
February 2016
Select Committee Second Special Report summarises the decisions made about noise mitigation and need for hydrogeology investigations in the Wendover area.
March 2016
Monitoring wells installed, enabling measurements to assess the impact of the north cutting on groundwater flows from the Coombe Hill aquifer into the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal and the Weston Turville Reservoir "Site of Special Scientific Interest".
July 2016
House of Lords Select Committee decide against considering any significant changes to the Bill that would need an additional provision, specifically rejecting discussion of more tunnelling for Wendover.
October 2016
Inconclusive results from groundwater "pump testing" survey at Wellwick Farm.
November 2016
Fusion (a joint venture of Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, BAM Nuttall and Ferrovial Agroman) awarded HS2’s Central Area enabling works contracts package worth £300m.
February 2017
HS2 bill gets Royal Assent.
July 2017
Major Works Civils C2 section (North Portal Chiltern Tunnels to Brackley) contract worth £723m let to CEK JV (Carillion Construction Ltd, Eiffage Genie Civil SA, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Ltd). This covers both design and build aspects.
October 2017
DfT and HS2 reject the July 2017 Wendover Parish Council proposal for a 4km mined tunnel between Durham Farm and Nash Lee; citing errors in the business case, engineering difficulties, and impact on the project plan.
January 2018
Carillion Construction Ltd. cease trading, so Eiffage and Kier now running the C2 MWCC contract.
Wendover Parish Council refutes the HS2’s assertion about the business case and engineering difficulties of the mined tunnel with professional reports.
July 2018
Survey about Very Low Noise Surfacing on the Wendover Bypass as an alternative to the roadside noise barriers agreed in AP5.
EK Public meeting reveals Small Dean Viaduct indicative design, with adverse community feedback about the "brutal" visual impact.
September 2018
Plan for Archaeology trial trenches in Wellwick Field.
EK Public consultation engagement event at St Anne’s Hall reveals Wendover Dean viaduct, Small Dean viaduct, and green tunnel south portal "key design element" scheme designs.
October 2018
DfT reports that they undertook an external independent examination of the Wendover mined tunnel proposal; which concluded in May 2018 that the cost, engineering difficulties, and impact on the project plan of the mined tunnel were correct and that the "consented" design (in the Act) should proceed. Similarly, the Infrastructure Projects Authority had undertaken an independent review and concluded in August 2018 that HS2 Ltd and DfT had given the mined tunnel proposals proper scrutiny and appropriate evaluation.
November 2018
Small Dean viaduct wins the Independent Design Panel Award for high quality Phase 1 Scheme Design.
March 2019
Archaeology trial trenches in Bacombe Lane field to scope need for further study.
April 2019
DfT, HS2, and EKFB reviewed the OTB Engineering report about construction of the mined tunnel, and concluded that "the key strategic reasons for not pursing the mined tunnel were:
- Previous consideration by the Select Committee
- Cost - both capital and indirect costs from re-design
- Programme – circa 12-24 month delay
- Legislation – changes would either be required or an alternative sought (e.g. TWA)
- Risk – In terms of construction risks not accounted for".
August 2019
Oakervee review of HS2 starts.
September 2019
Perimeter fencing installed around the "limits of land available for use".
EK feedback event at St Anne’s Hall revealed minor changes made to the key element designs following the public consultation.
November 2019
Independent Design Panel reviews EKFB’s Schedule 17 submission designs for the Small Dean viaduct and green tunnel south portal.
December 2019
Oakervee review proposes HS2 progresses without any significant changes to Phase 1.
Badger sett closures, to enforce migration away from the line.
January 2020
Wendover Active Resistance Camp protestors start living in tree houses at Small Dean.
Archaeology surveys start near Wellwick Farm, and works compound established at the "green tunnel north portal" site with access from the A413 bypass layby.
EKFB undertake further ground investigation works along the route.
February 2020
Go-ahead given for HS2 Phase 1 following the Oakervee review.
Second phase of Bacombe Lane archaeology starts.
National Grid pylon works at Grove Farm and Wellwick.
DfT responded to an FoI request about the mined tunnel, stating: "…the subsequent costs of seeking legislative consent for the detailed design change and the consequential cost of delaying the introduction of HS2 services do not represent good value for money or an effective use of public money.".
April 2020
Ferrovial and BAM Nuttall join to form the EKFB joint venture with acceptance of the "scheme design" and given "notice to proceed" for the detailed design and construction of the C2 section.
May 2020
Archaeology works near the cricket ground as well as Wellwick Farm.
July 2020
Neolithic (circa 2000 BC) woodhenge and Roman remains revealed at Wellwick.
National Grid pylon works completed.
August 2020
Third phase of Bacombe Lane archaeology starts, with PRoW diversion to the west of site.
September 2020
Hedgerow removal at Nash Lee for newt translocation to Gt Missenden.
Small Dean Lane widened near the bypass Hale Bridge roundabout to facilitate access to the works compound.
October 2020
DfT rejects Wendover Parish Council’s request to see the independent assessment reports about the mined tunnel proposal.
Badger sett closures, to enforce migration away from the line.
Section of the Memorial Wood stripped for archaeology.
November 2020
Additional wells for second phase of groundwater "pump testing" at Wellwick established.
January 2021
Second phase aquifer pump testing starts.
Chilterns Society update with aerial photography (with Wendover photos and commentary from 45 minutes in).
February 2021
Access to Smith’s Lane closed off for hedgerow clearance.
Wendover Dean Schedule 17 design submitted to Bucks Council.
Small Dean Lane closed to all traffic.
Bacombe Lane field PRoW re-diverted to east side of archaeology site.
March 2021
Hedgerow removal at Wellwick to facilitate migration of newts.
Folly Bridge PRoW closed for pump test works.
May 2021
Bacombe field archaeology finished.
Small Dean vegetation and tree clearance.
New access road for Boswells Farm built.
More ground investigation works on line of track.
EKFB works compound at the green tunnel north portal being established.
June 2021
Wendover Dean schedule 17 design approved by Bucks Council
July 2021
HS2 Minister declines a request for a meeting to discuss the unanswered questions about the analysis of the mined tunnel, saying "I remain satisfied that the proposal has been assessed fairly and honestly".
HS2 Minister visits Wendover.
Start of Nash Lee Road diversion works.
Foundations for the north portal concrete batching plant installed.
Chilterns Society second HS2 update with aerial photography (with Wendover aerial photos and commentary from 42 minutes in).
Very low noise surfacing provided on the Wendover bypass.
August 2021
Test piling for the foundations of the Small Dean viaduct
September 2021
Boswell Farm access road completed.
Site access road built from north portal compound to Ellesborough Road.
Road Barn Farm demolished at Small Dean.
Last match at the Wendover cricket ground.
October 2021
Wendover Active Resistance Camp protesters removed from tree houses.
Sheet piling beside Chiltern Line at Small Dean stopped due to protesters in tunnels.
PRoW at Nash Lee Road (ELL/25) kept open around the diversion road works.
Hedgerow clearance at Bacombe Lane to enable utility diversion works.
November 2021
Last Wendover Active Resistance Camp protesters removed from tunnels.
Earthworks start for the Rocky Lane cutting.
Demolition of Ellesborough Road cottages started, but postponed to March ’22 due to discovery of roosting bats.
December 2021
Small Dean sheet piling beside the Chiltern Line restarts on Christmas morning.
PRoW (ELL/20) closed between Terrick and the Triangle Business Park.
January 2022
Chilterns Society third HS2 update with aerial photography (with Wendover aerial photos and commentary from 41 minutes in).
February 2022
Wendover cricket ground taken over and PRoW closures to Wellwick (WEN/6) and Ellesborough Road (WEN/11).
Concrete batching plant completed at north portal compound.
Plans for conveyor system revealed for spoil transfer over the A413 and Chiltern Line to the Small Dean compound.
March 2022
Topsoil removed to enable archaeology on the route of the Ellesborough Road diversion.
Ellesborough Road de-vegetation for the green tunnel cutting and the Bacombe Lane link road diversion.
April 2022
Ellesborough Road archaeology phase 2 started.
May 2022
Topsoil clearance for Bacombe Lane link road.
June 2022
Bacombe Lane field Anglo Saxon settlement revealed (and also on BBC news).
New PRoW established between Wellwick to Ellesborough Rd to the west of the green tunnel worksite as a diversion of WEN/6/2.
Small Dean conveyor bridge installed to allow movement of spoil north from Great Missenden without dump truck traffic on the A413.
July 2022
Folly Bridge PRoW (WEN/55/1) closed "until late 2024", and PRoW (WEN/54/1) closed "for four weeks" for installation of water supply pipe.
Demolition of six houses on Ellesborough Road.
Chilterns Society fourth HS2 update with aerial photography (with Wendover aerial photos and commentary from 50 minutes in).
August 2022
New Bridleway established around the Small Dean Lane Compound.
Green Tunnel and North Cutting Schedule 17 submitted.
December 2022
A413 closure for excavation next to Chiltern Railway for Small Dean Viaduct pier.
January 2023
Small Dean Schedule 17 submitted.
"Nash Lee" Green Tunnel and North Cutting Schedule 17 approved.
Chilterns Society fifth HS2 update with aerial photography (with Wendover aerial photos and commentary from 34 minutes in).
EKFB issued an “HS2 Update” giving details of 2022 achievement and outline plans for 2023.
February 2023
A413 Small Dean conveyor commissioned.
March 2023
Temporary bridge for Ellesborough Road diversion completed.
Piling started for Small Dean Viaduct foundations.
EKFB "Meet the Team" exhibition in Wendover St Anne’s Hall.
April 2023
Top soil removal started for the Green Tunnel north of Ellesborough Road.
Small Dean Viaduct Schedule 17 approved.
May 2023
Piling for Small Dean Viaduct started.
July 2023
Chilterns Society sixth HS2 update with Wendover aerial photos and commentary from 34 minutes in.
Temporary Nash Lee Road and Nash Lee Lane diversions opened.
Small Dean Conveyor commissioned handling 550 tons per hour.
August 2023
Excavation of the Green Tunnel cutting started north of the Cricket Ground following the Environment Agency approval to dig down to 3 metres above the peak groundwater level.
Coombe Hill Aquifer impact to be managed by the construction of a "low permeability" tanking wall around the North Cutting. Wall is 650m long and extends down 30 metres through the water bearing fissured chalk layer to be embedded in the underlying clay.
Second Concrete works established for construction of the underground North Cutting tanking wall.
October 2023
DfT "Network North" decision to cancel all HS2 developments north of Phase 1, and seek alternative financing of Euston station and the link to Old Oak Common.
Decision to limit Euston to six platforms means Phase 1 route is limited to a maximum of 8 trains per hour.
Old Oak Common being designated as a terminus (rather than a through station) means that trains need to be routed to six (rather than just three) platforms and reorganisation of the track and points is needed to increase the train handling capacity from 3 to 6 trains per hour. Insufficient land available to increase this further.
Construction of the 650 metre long underground "low permeability" wall around the North Cutting started with the installation of guide rails for future excavation to a depth of 30 metres.
November 2023
Sheet piling at the Memorial Wood to allow start of excavation of the Green Tunnel cutting south of Ellesborough Road.
Video of completion of the first "hammerhead" pier at the Wendover Dean Viaduct.
HS2 Minister’s 6 monthly report to Parliament identifies that "HS2 Ltd continues tendering for Phase 1 rail systems packages, including track installation, overhead catenary and high-voltage power. HS2 Ltd has provided suppliers with scope clarifications to support them in submitting competitive bids. Bids previously submitted by the supply chain showed higher indirect costs and fees than estimated and are currently unaffordable."
EKFB "Meet the Team" event at Lindengate
Wendover Parish Council HS2 public meeting, slides reviewing key issues for Wendover.
Drone video footage of the works between Stoke Mandeville and Wendover.
December 2023
Align JV presentation discloses that they will take over the building of the Wendover Green Tunnel from EKFB.
The Times reports that HS2 are considering a Contract Variation to add additional doors to HS2 train coaches to facilitate passengers alighting and boarding within a 120 second "dwell time" at Classic station platforms.
January 2024
Press Release including a video of the launch of the initial sections of the Wendover Dean Viaduct deck.
Drone video footage of the works between Great Missenden and Wendover, showing the Wendover Dean Viaduct progress.
Drone video footage of the works between Stoke Mandeville and Wendover, showing the flooding impact after recent torrential rain.
Massive excavation to prepare for the installation of the Ellesborough Road Utility Services bridge.
Chilterns Society seventh HS2 update with Wendover aerial photos and commentary from 36 minutes in.
HS2 Executive Chairman explains to the Transport Select Committee that the "Classic Compatible" trains on order will be restricted to single 200m long unit working due to limited platform length at Classic stations, and the inability to "tilt" will restrict train speed to 110mph working on West Coast Main Line bends between Birmingham and Manchester. Consequently they will be slower and shorter than the 11 carriage Avanti Pendolino Class 390/1 trains currently in use.
First realignment of the A413 brought into use to enable piling of Piers 3 and 4 of the Small Dean Viaduct.
February 2024
Southernmost Pier [1] of Small Dean Viaduct completed.
Drone video Stoke Mandeville to Wendover, showing the guide rails for excavation of the "low permeability wall" around the Wendover North Cutting.
Drone video South Heath to Wendover showing progress with the Chiltern Tunnel Portal, the Wendover Dean Viaduct, and the Small Dean Viaduct.
First bore of Chilterns Tunnel completed with TBM "Florence" emerging at South Heath.
Temporary Utility Services Bridge installed at Ellesborough Road.
March 2024
Two northernmost Small Dean Viaduct piers [5 and 6] completed.
Second bore of Chilterns Tunnel completed with TBM "Cecilia" emerging at South Heath
Ellesborough Road diversion opened.
Drone footage Stoke Mandeville to Wendover.
April 2024
Right of Way between Dobbins Lane and the Station Approach Business Park (WEN54) reopened after 21 months following installation of water supply pipe for the Green Tunnel North Portal Compound.
Temporary Utility Services Bridge dismantled to allow a haul road ramp to be established over Ellesborough Road, due to delays in removing utility services.
May 2024
Second phase of Wendover Dean Viaduct deck slide.
Two Small Dean Viaduct piers [3 and 4] between the A413 and the railway line completed.
The temporary bridleway around the Small Dean Lane compound was closed to allow excavation of the foundations for the Grove Farm Access Underbridge. This removed the "Chilterns Cycleway" access for cyclists and pedestrians between Wendover and Dunsmore, despite U&A 979. EKFB could not find an alternative route through their congested worksites and concluded that "reasonable endeavours" had been undertaken.
The Environment Agency gave conditional permission to start excavation of the "low permeability wall" at the North Cutting and the groundwater chamber near Kings Farm.
June 2024
Temporary pipe between Folly Bridge and Wendover Brook installed to handle waste water from the Green Tunnel cutting excavation. Local residents objected to the visual impact of the security fencing surrounding the surface pipe.
Piling the foundations for the Nash Lee Road overbridge abutments started.
July 2024
Chilterns Society eighth HS2 update with Wendover aerial photos and commentary from 27 minutes in.
National Audit Office report reviews what HS2 Ltd have done following the Governments November ’23 decision to cancel building of Phase 2. "DfT still has some decisions to make to finalise the scope of Phase 1."
Excavation of the tanking wall around the Wendover North Cutting started.
August 2024
Final slide completed the installation of the 345m long Wendover Dean Viaduct deck.
Final section of the haul road for spoil movement between Small Dean and Stoke Mandeville completed at Ellesborough Road.
A413 realigned to allow construction of the final Pier 2 of the Small Dean Viaduct.
Drone video of the Small Dean Viaduct deck steelworks.
September 2024
Below ground level launch platform for the Grove Farm Culvert tunnel boring machine excavated beside Bacombe Lane.
BBC Panorama review of the HS2 project financial history, including a Wendover Farmer’s perspective (programme itself here).
A41 overbridge between Fleet Marston and Waddesdon completed.
October 2024
How the Wendover Dean and Small Dean Viaducts are being constructed.
November 2024
A418 Oxford Road Overbridge brought into service near Hartwell House, Aylesbury.
Final Small Dean Viaduct pier completed
Access Shaft for mining of the Grove Farm Culvert completed at Bacombe Lane
Railway Systems Contractors announced, including:
- Track – Ferrovial and BAM Nuttall JV
- Overhead Catenary System – Colas Rail
- Operational Telecomms and Security – Siemens Mobility, Hitachi Rail, and Telent
December 2024
Ellesborough Road temporary diversion fully opened following removal of old Electricity Sub-station and a Gas Main repair.
Temporary Bacombe Lane link road opened giving residents access from Ellesborough Road, and including a bridleway diversion of PRoW WEN13A. Access from South Street (including PRoW WEN 14) closed for two years to allow construction of the Green Tunnel.
Reinstallation of the Utility Services bridge at Ellesborough Road for diversion of the sewer and Thames Water main.
Start of laying foundations for the Wendover Green Tunnel near the old Cricket Ground.
DfT issue a "6 monthly HS2 update" to Parliament identifying the replacement of the HS2 Chairman and CEO; and focus on completion of Phase 1 at the Lowest Reasonable Cost.
HS2 responded and provided answers to FAQs to Wendover Community feedback about their proposal to use Dobbins Lane as an access route for works in the fields behind Kings Farm.