Architect Sadie Morgan to lead new independent HS2 design panel

Award winning designer Sadie Morgan, partner of the dRMM and president of the Architectural Association is to lead the new High Speed 2 independent design panel.

Antony Oliver
23 March 2015

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HS2 Design Vision 2015

The appointment was announced by Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin today in a written ministerial statement. The panel, he said, would advise on the delivery of the HS2 Design Vision which is also published today.

“We have moved another step forward to realising our ambition of creating a world-class railway,” he said. “This will set the bar for all future HS2 design.”

“Great design is integral to making sure that HS2 achieves its full potential, from the beginning to the end of the journey. This includes not only landscape and station design but the entire passenger experience" Sadie Morgan

The members of the panel are expected to be drawn from across design disciplines of infrastructure and, according to Morgan, will assess every aspect of design on the project.

“As the single biggest infrastructure project the UK has ever undertaken, HS2 will touch the lives of millions of people,” said Morgan.  

“Great design is integral to making sure that HS2 achieves its full potential, from the beginning to the end of the journey. This includes not only landscape and station design but the entire passenger experience,” she added.

“From website to way finding, ticketing to trains – the remit of the design panel will be all encompassing. We will deliver a project that everyone can be proud of, that speaks a national language yet respects regional dialects. Outstanding design will ensure a step-change in railway travel for this century and beyond.”

The HS2 Design Vision was prepared by a panel of experts led by David Kester & Associates and is designed to outline the role that good design can play in making High Speed Two a catalyst for growth across Britain.

"Given the scale and importance of HS2 to the nation, every design task is critical," said HS2 chief executuve Simon Kirby in his introduction to the Vision.

"The system will be delivered through all the designed elements coming together. All the fundamental principles of good design must apply," he added.

"It all has to look good and work well and that means meeting rigorous requirements. But we are looking to achieve even more – something transformational – and this will call for great ingenuity. The HS2 Design Vision starts with the idea of designing for everyone to benefit and enjoy. I hope you enjoy reading about it and will help us as we now make it real."

In his statement McLaughlin also updated on the progress being made on the HS2 project as the hybrid Bill for the first phase of HS2 makes progress through Parliament and said that momentum of the HS2 project remains strong to deliver a railway which will be “an engine for growth in our country”.

“We are continuing to develop our plans for the redevelopment of Euston station and are working with the local community to ensure we keep disruption to a minimum,” he said.

“On 18 March we signed an agreement with the London Borough of Camden that fulfils our pledge to social rented tenants affected by Euston’s redevelopment. We have now ensured that replacement housing will be available for all 136 social rented properties in Camden affected by HS2.

He added: “In addition to this, I have set out my commitment to get HS2 to the North sooner, delivering benefits to businesses and individuals more quickly. Therefore, subject to further analysis and decisions on the preferred route, I intend to prepare a dedicated hybrid Bill to lay during the next Parliament with a view to bringing HS2 to Crewe earlier than planned.”