HS2 announces formal start to project with 22,000 jobs boost

HS2 Ltd has today announced the formal start of construction on the project.

Earlier this year, on 15 April, the Department for Transport (DfT) gave approval for HS2 Ltd to issue Notice to Proceed (NtP) to the four Main Works Civils Contractors (MWCCs) working on the project to commence full detailed design and construction of Phase One of the HS2 railway (the route from London – West Midlands).

Today’s announcement signals that the MWCCs are moving from enabling works, scheme design and preparatory work, to full construction of the railway.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “HS2 is at the heart of our plans to build back better – and with construction now formally underway, it’s set to create around 22,000 new jobs.

“As the spine of our country’s transport network, the project will be vital in boosting connectivity between our towns and cities.

“But HS2’s transformational potential goes even further. By creating hundreds of apprenticeships and thousands of skilled jobs, HS2 will fire up economic growth and help to rebalance opportunity across this country for years to come.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Today marks a major milestone in this government’s ambitions to build back better from Covid-19.

“Shovels in the ground to deliver this new railway means thousands of jobs building the future of our country’s infrastructure.

“This fantastic moment is what leaders across the North and Midlands have called for – action to level up our country by boosting capacity on our railways, improving connections between our regions, and spreading prosperity.”

Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2 Ltd, said: “We are already seeing the benefits that building HS2 is bringing to the UK economy in the short term, but it’s important to emphasise how transformative the railway will be for our country when operational.

“With the start of construction, the reality of high speed journeys joining up Britain’s biggest cities in the North and Midlands and using that connectivity to help level up the country has just moved a step closer.”

Northern Powerhouse Partnership director, Henri Murison, said: “Major infrastructure projects like HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) are already providing jobs and opportunities now in the construction phase, with jobs being supported through an early bridge contract in Darlington to future contracts for from key facilities like Skinningrove.

“They also have the potential to transform the UK economy by attracting investment and stimulating growth in the long term.

“We will be expecting jobs across the Northern Powerhouse to be created in significant numbers throughout the supply chain by all the contractors involved.

“It is also crucial that work starts on the Northern parts of HS2, integrated with NPR, as soon as possible.

“Work should be starting now on the new line starting from Leeds down to Toton on the East alongside from Manchester, through Manchester Airport and Crewe.

“Increasing capacity on the North’s rail network and better connecting our towns and cities will be vital in the economic regeneration of the Northern Powerhouse.”

The chairman of the Transport Group for the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, which supports business in Bradford, Leeds and York & North Yorkshire, has also welcomed the announcement of the start of the construction.

Alastair Gordon said: “Businesses continue to call for investment in infrastructure and that’s now more important than ever, if we’re going to see levelling up in the regions.

“We hope that building the first stage will show the benefit of connectivity and jobs growth, so ensuring further investment to extend HS2 to our region.”