HS2 compound could be in place at Rudheath for 3 years before building work begins

Plans for the site, off Cooke’s Lane, have been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council, with Phase 2b of HS2 set to pass through Parliament next year.

Phase 2b, from Crewe to Manchester and Leeds, would include high speed rail tracks to the south and east of Northwich – with Lostock Green near the proposed site on the most severely affected areas.

HS2 Ltd is hopeful that, should the Phase Bill 2b pass through Parliament as planned, construction could begin north of Crewe in 2023 ahead of trains running 10 years later.

The location plan for the Cooke's Lane compound

The land at Cooke’s Lane would be used as a base for ground investigations, to be returned to its current use after work is finished.

Ground investigations constitute works required in advance of the main construction programme, including site access, detailed investigations, environmental surveys, and environmental mitigation works.

A planning statement said: “The compound will act as a base for staff carrying out the investigations, with staff arriving at the compound in their own vehicles, collecting the equipment to carry out the investigations.

“They will then drive to the GI locations, returning at the end of the day with the equipment and the samples collected for processing. Equipment and samples will be stored within the compound.”

The compound would be one of many, located strategically along the route based on factors including access, proximity to GI sites, and size and cost of land.

The current HS2 Phase 2b route through mid Cheshire

Liaising with CWAC, Cheshire East Council and Warrington Borough Council, more than 30 potential sites were identified.

A HS2 Ltd spokesman said: “Out of those locations potentially available, the site emerged from this appraisal process as the most suitable location for the proposed development.

“The site was roughly equidistant of Crewe and Manchester. Furthermore, the preferred route corridor for HS2 Phase 2b will pass close to the site and GI works are to be carried out within and adjacent to the site.

“The site is proximate to the A556 and A530, which in turn provide direct access to the motorway network.”

The compound would be operational from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, with lighting to be in operation overnight as needed for security reasons.

Temporary buildings will include a security hut, a logging area, logging store cabins, a logging office, nine portable office cabins, two canteens, a drying room and toilets, plant and material storage, and waste disposal facilities.

A total of 53 parking spaces would also be provided.

A traffic report has found that, despite some concerns over added traffic at the Broken Cross roundabout and heavy goods vehicles negotiating the sharp Cooke’s Lane bend, the development would bring ‘no material adverse traffic impact’.