Department for Transport appoints new HS2 Residents’ Commissioner

The Department for Transport has today (25 April 2022) announced the appointment of Stewart Jackson in the role of HS2 Residents’ Commissioner.

Responsible for driving open and transparent communication with all residents, Mr Jackson will be tasked with fulfilling the commitments set out in the HS2 community engagement strategy and the residents’ charter.

This includes building respectful long-term relationships with communities, actively encouraging HS2 Ltd’s workforce to listen to local concerns and work with communities to develop local two-way engagement and communication programmes.

In his role, Stewart Jackson will also regularly meet with the HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson, and the HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, Mark Thurston, about emerging trends and concerns, ensuring the government meets its core principles of respecting people and places as we continue to build HS2, improving transport connectivity across the North of England and the Midlands and levelling up the nation.

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said:

As we continue to build this revolutionary railway it’s vital we bring the public with us, supporting the communities around construction as we work to improve transport links and level up the nation.

Stewart has years of experience working to champion the public and I look forward to working with him on this vital project.

Mr Jackson brings decades of experience working to champion the public interest having been a local councillor in West London, a Member of Parliament for 12 years and Vice President of the Local Government Association.

HS2 Residents’ Commissioner Stewart Jackson said:

It’s a huge honour and I welcome the challenge to build upon the excellent work of Deborah Fazan, as the new Residents’ Commissioner.

It’s also an exciting time, as the HS2 project evolves but at its heart is the residents’ charter and a commitment to treating people and places affected by HS2 with respect, empathy and sensitivity and ensuring a dialogue with communities is done in a clear and transparent way, not just engaging but listening and prompting action in a timely manner.

I am delighted to have the chance to help shape this important work.

During his time in Parliament, Mr Jackson held roles including front bench spokesman, whip, Parliamentary aide to 2 cabinet ministers and a special adviser at the Department for Exiting the European Union.

This comes 6 weeks after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps relaunched his search for a new HS2 Chair tasked with leading the way in driving forward Europe’s largest infrastructure project.