Industry rallies to warn Treasury on cost of HS2 backtrack

Aaron Morby 6 years ago
Share

Leading contractors and consultants are warning Government over the full cost to the economy of cancelling or scaling back plans for HS2.

A comprehensive 52-page report “Why Britain Needs HS2” has been submitted to Treasury ahead of the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

It comes as fears grow that the next Prime Minister may be tempted to cancel or scale back the vast project.

The High Speed Rail Industry Leaders group of more than 15 leading consultants and contractors including Costain, Bouygues, Laing O’Rourke and Skanska, is concerned that the debate in recent months about whether the project should proceed has never been louder.

Industry leaders warn that cutting HS2 would cost 9,000 jobs working on the project already, with tens of thousands more to be created when the mega scheme gets into full swing.

It also warns the project is essential to achieving the Government’s net zero carbon emissions target by 2050, as well as closing the north-south productivity divide.

On the issue of costs, the report finds that the project will only amount to 0.4% of public spending. This is the same as the £50bn+ that the fuel duty freeze has cost the public purse since 2010.

Jim Steer, HSRIL Director said: “This report shows beyond question that HS2 is a great way to bring this country back together, with dozens of towns and cities set to benefit, even ones that will never see a HS2 train.

“Its capacity will form an essential part of any national plan to tackle the climate emergency and reach net zero carbon.

“HS2 must be delivered in full. The evidence is overwhelming. There is no Plan B for tackling the north-south transport divide.”

The report also says that pitting HS2 against Northern Powerhouse Rail is a false choice.

Plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail, linking the northern cities and for Midlands Connect with its new rail hub, would have to return to the drawing board, since both are predicated on HS2.

Development strategies and private sector investments in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Leeds would disintegrate.

An estimated 47 towns and cities are either on HS2 line-of-route or will get better rail services using capacity released on the existing network.

Dozens more towns benefit


Towns and cities benefitting from direct rail connections to HS2 hub stations: Slough, Maidenhead, Heathrow, Barnsley, Bangor, Llandudno, Holyhead, Bradford, Harrogate, Skipton, Scarborough, Rochdale, Bolton, Huddersfield, Runcorn, Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Dumfries, and Sunderland.

22 places are set to benefit from better services on existing lines using capacity released by HS2: Watford, Milton Keynes, Coventry, Wakefield, Rugby, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Lichfield, Doncaster, Retford, Newark, Peterborough, Stevenage, Shrewsbury, Telford, Wrexham, Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Hull, Wolverhampton, Grantham, and Cambridge.

Latest news

13-year-old becomes UK’s youngest qualified digger driver

Grandson of Gallagher Group chairman sets industry record
4 hours ago

Cubby reborn in £12m Svella-backed takeover

£50m revenue target set as 14 firms combine under new Cubby Group banner
19 hours ago

North East NHS trusts plot £3bn health estate overhaul

Market engagement begins for major construction push across four trusts
19 hours ago

HG goes green on cranes in £1.2m switch to battery power

Diesel-free crane drive cuts fuel bills by 94%
20 hours ago

Developer fined £165,000 for fire safety failings

Firm ignored fire safety orders on apartment job in Preston
20 hours ago

Bidding to start for £1.8bn North West framework

Contractors invited to bid for latest Procure Partnerships deal
20 hours ago

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
2 days ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
2 days ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
2 days ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
2 days ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
3 days ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
2 days ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
2 days ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
2 days ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
3 days ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
3 days ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
3 days ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
4 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
4 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
3 days ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
4 days ago

Major Building Safety Regulator shake-up to end tower delays

HSE stripped of control and top fire chiefs brought in to fast-track stalled schemes
4 days ago

Hinkley trio sign Sizewell civils deal

Balfour,Bouygues and Laing O'Rourke form Civil Works Alliance for new power station
4 days ago

£3.9bn data centre plan for Ravenscraig steelworks

Green energy to power massive new steel to silicon AI campus
4 days ago

Breakthrough on HS2’s second longest tunnel

8.4 mile Northolt to Old Oak Common drive completes
4 days ago

Neilcott on fast-track to debt-free employee ownership

£22.5m loan nearly paid down after big profit year
4 days ago

TfL kicks off race for £700m Tube station upgrade

South Kensington and Elephant & Castle top the pipeline list
4 days ago

Corbyn Plant Hire fleet goes under the hammer

Kit to be sold off by sister firm to collapsed groundworks contractor
4 days ago

Government wields procurement stick on late payment

New rules would block slow payers from bidding on big public jobs
7 days ago

Hercules buys power line labour firm for £15.7m

Labour supply specialist snaps up Advantage NRG to tap booming electricity upgrade market
7 days ago