HS2 project should go-ahead ‘in full’, says leaked report

The HS2 project should go ahead “in full” – according to a leaked report in The Times.

The newspaper reports that the Oakervee review into HS2 says that despite the cost of the project soaring to £88bn, the government should commit to the full high-speed rail network.

The leaked report also states that the procurement strategy for the first phase of HS2 – from London to Birmingham – has been a “failure”, with prices “significantly inflated”.

The review goes on to say that HS2 would benefit cities more in the Midlands and the North than London, and that there are no “shovel-ready alternatives” to improve rail capacity.

The review had been slated to be published after the forthcoming General Election because of purdah rules.

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said: “We said that the Oakervee Review provided an opportunity to restate the benefits of HS2 in full and make a better case than ever before.

“Within 24 hours of the review being announced, we welcomed Douglas Oakervee to Birmingham and he saw a collective determination from key stakeholders in the East and West Midlands to speak as one voice about the importance of the whole HS2 network.

“HS2 also has the full support of the British Chambers of Commerce network.

“So it is encouraging to see read reports this morning that the review has backed the project in its entirety.

“We now urge the Government – whoever it may be after next month’s General Election – to commit to the whole HS2 project so that the full economic benefits can be realised not only in the Midlands but across the whole country.”