The Government has no ‘convincing case’ for constructing high-speed rail line HS2, a highly critical report from the House of Lords has warned.
A stinging paper published today by the Economic Affairs Committee highlights the main arguments in favour of developing the line – capacity improvements and economic growth – remain unproven.
Peers accused the Government of failing to consider whether advancing regional links between northern cities could better provide a better economic boost than the £50bn project, which is expected to be one of the most expensive infrastructure developments ever undertaken in the UK.
Questions were also raised about the potential £40.5bn benefits expected for business travellers on the line, which peers branded ‘out-of-date and unconvincing’.
Ministers were told that plans for the route may ‘need to change’ if it cannot be demonstrated that HS2 represents the ‘most effective way’ of achieving capacity and financial objectives for the development.
‘The Government has yet to make a convincing case for proceeding with the project,’ the report said.
‘We fully support investment in rail infrastructure and welcome the Government’s commitment to it. But the project has to be developed against a background of financial restraint and it is not at all clear that HS2 represents the best, most cost effective solution to the problems it is intended to solve.’
The first phase of HS2 would connect London and Birmingham in 2026, with a V shaped extension following to Manchester and Yorkshire.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said the case for HS2 was now ‘crystal clear’.
‘It will have a transformational effect, supporting growth in the North by improving connectivity, freeing up space on our crowded rail network, promoting regeneration, boosting local skills, generating tens of thousands of jobs and helping secure the UK's future prosperity,’ the spokesperson said.
The Lords report was also met with disappointment from Leeds City Council leader, Cllr Keith Wakefield, who said the project would be ‘vital in unlocking the enormous potential in Leeds, the city region and across the north and Midlands’.
Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Michael Dugher MP, said that while his party continued to support HS2, it was now ‘vital that ministers win public confidence for this important investment and ensure that the economic benefits are felt as widely as possible’.
‘The Government should also be ensuring that the development of HS2 is used to help get young people into work and that those who are impacted by the route are properly compensated,’ he added.
Michael Thirkettle, CEO of McBains Cooper, which has worked on worked on planning and design for a number of major international projects said: 'Although there is broad political consensus over HS2, a lack of cohesion and long term strategy is stifling progress – a common problem with these sort of major projects. Establishing a cross-party independent commission for infrastructure, to analyse strategic opportunities and deliver the projects that the UK will rely upon in years to come would go some way to resolving these sorts of issues.'
