Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has admitted that it may have been more “sensible” to build High Speed 2 from north to south rather than starting with the London to Birmingham leg.
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He was responding in Parliament to a question from Labour MP for Leeds Central Hilary Benn, who asked – given that the planned National Infrastructure Bank is set to be based in the city – “would it not be highly symbolic to start building Phase 2b of the eastern leg of HS2 from Leeds southwards?”
Grant Shapps replied: “I actually agree with the Right Honourable Gentleman; it probably would have been sensible to start the entire project from the north to the south in the first place.”
But, he added: “Having looked at this in great detail, not least through the Oakervee review, I also know that chopping and changing those plans part way through is the most expensive possible outcome and does not work out. Nonetheless, we are committed to ensuring that the Integrated Rail Plan answers all these questions.”
The Integrated Rail Plan is expected to be published shortly following this week’s local elections.
The exchange in the House of Commons came as a survey of small and medium sized firms in the rail supply chain showed strong support for delivering the eastern leg of High Speed 2 in full, following speculation over recent months that it could be delayed or downscaled.
Four in five of the companies surveyed which are already working on the rail project said they would expect a drop in revenue should the West Midlands to Leeds section of the project not go ahead, with almost half reporting they would need to downsize their business.
Among those not currently employed on the project, over 90% said winning a contract would be ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ important to their business, with two thirds hoping to win work on the eastern leg itself.
The survey was coordinated by the High Speed Rail Group and the Railway Industry Association. The latter’s chief executive Darren Caplan said: “HS2 is essential to UK businesses of all sizes right across the country, supporting jobs, investment and economic growth at a pivotal time for the economy.
“Delivering the full route, including the eastern leg, will be vital. As the results of this survey show, any reduction to the full HS2 scheme would deliver a blow not just to future connectivity, but also to the many small and medium sized businesses that are working to support the UK, as the Government seeks to ‘build back better’ post-Coronavirus.”
(Image: Capita)
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