HS2 Community & Environment Fund and Business & Local Economy Fund

In October 2014 the government announced two funding programmes to help offset the disruption on local communities and businesses – the Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF). 

A combined total of £40m has been made available for these two funds over the period of construction and the first year of operation for the London to the West Midlands route. The Funds will be available during the construction period and for the first year of operational HS2 services. The Funds will support good quality bids that meet CEF and BLEF criteria, and funding will be available throughout this time period.

The Community and Environment Fund (CEF) has been created to add benefit to communities along the route that are demonstrably disrupted by the construction of HS2 from London to West Midlands.

The Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) has been created to support local economies along the route that are demonstrably disrupted by the construction of HS2 from London to West Midlands.

If you need any further information please contact us by email on hs2funds@groundwork.org.uk  If you would like a telephone call we can also arrange a convenient time to call you back.

HS2 Funds – Phase 2a

Following the government announcement on the 4 October 2023 that Phase 2a of HS2 has been cancelled, the Funds for Phase 2a are now closed.

HS2 Biodiversity Investment Fund - Phase 2a only

This Fund is closed for applications.  Further information on the Fund can be found here - The Biodiversity Investment Fund