Councillor Stephen Shaw, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, approved the addition of £3.3 million from the HS2 Road Safety Fund to the Capital Programme. This funding will be allocated to the A446 Birmingham Road, Coleshill Junction scheme, the Fosse Way lighting scheme, and small-scale capital schemes. The decision aims to improve road safety and infrastructure in areas affected by the HS2 ¹ route.

HS2 Road Safety Fund

Councillor Stephen Shaw approved the allocation of the final £3.3 million from the HS2 Road Safety Fund to Warwickshire County Council's Capital Programme. The funding will be distributed among the following projects:

• A446 Birmingham Road, Coleshill Junction scheme: £2.5 million will be allocated to this existing scheme, which aims to reduce accidents, increase capacity, and improve pedestrian and cycle connectivity at the A446 Stonebridge Road/Birmingham Road junction. The project includes the installation of staggered toucan crossings ² to improve access to employment, leisure, and religious centres, as well as improvements to the footway for a more sustainable connection to Coleshill.
• Fosse Way lighting scheme: £0.5 million will be used to retain temporary lighting installed by HS2 on the Fosse Way. This aims to provide a lasting road safety benefit beyond the HS2 construction phase. Due to ongoing HS2 construction work, the council is seeking an agreement with HS2 to carry out the work after 2026.
• Small scale capital schemes: £0.3 million will be allocated for further investigation and implementation of small-scale capital schemes along the HS2 track in Warwickshire. Officers will collaborate with elected members to identify suitable projects that can be delivered before the December 2026 deadline. Any unspent funds will be reallocated to the A446 Birmingham Road, Coleshill Junction scheme.

The HS2 Road Safety Fund, provided by the Department for Transport (DfT) and administered by HS2 Limited, aims to facilitate road safety improvements in areas affected by the HS2 route. Warwickshire County Council has been allocated a total of £8.045 million from this fund, and to date, £4.745 million has been committed to 37 schemes and programmes across the county. The council must allocate the remaining £3.3 million to schemes by the end of 2026 to comply with HS2's requirements.

Garry Palmer, Head of Strategic Planning and Regeneration, assured the Portfolio Holder that the design of the projects would be subject to ongoing review and that officers are committed to engaging with relevant portfolio holders as the design evolves. However, he also noted that the council must comply with the conditions set out by the HS2 fund, as Warwickshire County Council does not have full autonomy over the works.

The report on the HS2 Road Safety Fund noted that many of the proposed schemes will result in lower speeds or improve facilities for modal shift, which can reduce fuel consumption, air and noise pollution, as well as encouraging the confidence of walkers and cyclists.