Independent HS2 review “unbalanced”

Henri Murison

The director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership has been vocal in his response to alternative HS2 review produced by HS2 critic Lord Tom Berkeley.

The Labour peer was the deputy chair of an independent review, which was set up by the Government to evaluate the direction and future of the project.

He has written his own review after not agreeing with the currently unpublished Oakervee Review, which is expected to back HS2.

The review was set up after the infrastructure project set out a new timetable for delivery, with phase 2b from Birmingham to Leeds now due up to seven years late, in 2040.

Lord Berkley claims costs have now soared to £108bn, from its 2015 estimate of £55bn. HS2 own latest estimate for the project is £88bn, a 40% increase after stripping out the impact of cost inflation due to the later delivery of parts of the project.

“I believe that parliament has been seriously misled by the failure of HS2 Ltd and by ministers to report objectively and fairly on costs and programme changes,” said Lord Berkeley.

He added: “There is strong evidence that the greatest need and demand for improved rail services is within the regions, in particular the Northern Power House and Midlands Connect areas.”

But Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership claims that Lord Berkeley’s review “unbalanced” and “ignores the fact that the benefits of HS2 have been significantly underestimated”.

Mr Murison continues: “The independent Northern Powerhouse Review into HS2 we commissioned was clear – the only credible path for the North-South divide ever to be closed includes both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), with one pound in every five of the benefits of the new East West line coming from connecting into HS2.

Urging the government to respect its recent electoral victory in the North, Mr Murison concluded: “Cutting back on an infrastructure project that has the chance to change the country for the better once and for all would be a major error and a missed opportunity.”

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