The High Speed Rail Preparation (paving) Act received royal assent today (November 21st), signalling important progress on the project.

Royal assent marks the act as legal, wherein it has passed approval from both the House of Commons and House of Lords.

This act enables the expenditure on preparation work, inclusive of construction design, on both phases of HS2, as well as any future stages should they be implemented.

It also authorises the making of compensation payments to homeowners affected by HS2, ecological surveys, plans to realign existing railways and other important measures in advance of actual construction.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "Receiving royal assent for this act on schedule provides the public and businesses further reassurance of our determination to drive forward and deliver HS2 as quickly as possible."

HS2 previously experienced strong cross party support when the act passed through the House of Commons, despite cost issues, when MPs voted 350 to 35 in its favour.