HS2 faces further delays after a report from the National Audit Office recommends delaying the project by a year and a rethink on its route after concern that the timetable set down for the £56bn project was unrealistic and that escalating costs would place a severe strain on the public purse.
The first link from London to Birmingham was set to open in 2026 with thr link to the North, seven years later but the NAO are recommending that the first stage be delayed by a year.
While the Route past Birmingham to Manchester and to other Northern cities has yet to be approved, there are reports that the new station at Sheffield’s Meadowhall centre will be ditched with an alternative station into the city instead.
HS2 is a large, complex and ambitious programme which is facing cost and time pressures,” said Amyas Morse, head of the NAO.
“The unrealistic timetable set for HS2 Ltd by the Department [for Transport] means they are not as ready to deliver as they hoped to be at this point.The Department now needs to get the project working to a timescale that is achievable.”
The NAO said phase one of HS2 was currently forecast to cost £27.4bn, exceeding available funding by £204m.
The £55.7 billion funding package does not cover funding for all the activity needed to deliver the promised growth and regeneration benefits which is the responsibility of local authorities. There is risk that these benefits will not materialise if funding cannot be secured says the report, while effective integration of HS2 with the wider UK rail system is challenging and poses risks to value for money. The Department will need to address a number of issues including how HS2 services will complement or compete with other rail services, and how HS2 will interact with proposed improvements in the North..
MPs are due to vote on phase one of HS2 later this year. If they approve the bill, that’s effectively the green light to start building the line from London to Birmingham.
