Why HS2’s benefits justify the cost

COMMENT: Arguments about infrastructure and spiralling costs are nothing new. Complex projects invariably cost more than originally proposed. But scrutiny on HS2 is intensifying, with the government’s review now showing costs could top £100bn. Lord Berkeley, former deputy chair of the review, broke ranks earlier this month to question the design and feasibility of the project, and business groups are making claim and counter-claim about whether the new line will be worth the investment. But beyond the understandable concerns about costs, and the potential impact on communities closest to the new line, there is a bigger debate ongoing around the national interest. This is why the London Property Alliance, which brings together the Westminster and City Property Associations, is working together with Sheffield Property Association (S-PA) to put forward the facts around HS2, and demonstrate how it is critically important to not just delivering the jobs and homes we need, but helping bring the country closer together – literally. Promoting national benefits The benefits of HS2 are truly national and will deliver sustained economic growth in regions across the country, acting as an instigator and enabler of regeneration. The route will serve eight of Britain’s 10 largest cities: connecting London with Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, onwards to Leeds and Sheffield and up to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Local economic plans have detailed the improved connectivity which HS2 will bring, along with the creation of 500,000 new jobs and 90,000 new homes nationally. It will also drive the construction of workplaces and associated infrastructure, such as hotels, leisure and community facilities. HS2 is predicted to benefit the 10m people in the Midlands the most, due to improved connections on intercity lines, and halve journey times between Birmingham and Leeds/Sheffield. The success of HS2 is indelibly linked to Crossrail 2’s Euston link, which is expected to increase London’s rail capacity by 10%, and is crucial to ensuring the rail network is able to support a growing population across the capital and beyond. The troubles of delivering Crossrail have hardly helped the case for HS2, or Crossrail 2, but these should not detract from the overall benefits of investing in our critical infrastructure. These are also interlinked projects, dependent on each other in order to maximise the benefits of investment. Sacrificing all or parts of these would be counter-productive. With political will, HS2 can be one of the greatest collaborations of the public and private sectors the country has ever seen, and the catalyst for investment across the UK HS2 is also essential to relieving pressure on both southern and northern routes. Lord Berkeley has suggested simply upgrading existing northern rail networks and ditching HS2’s Phase 2B route – the eastern leg to Sheffield, Leeds and the North East via the East Midlands. But this, in the view of our allies at the S-PA, would seriously diminish the benefits that the region could reap from HS2, and be a poor substitute for a dedicated high-speed service connecting key economic areas of England. These are points we both made in our separate submissions to the Oakervee Review late last year. Avoiding regional resentment Improving UK-wide connectivity is essential for enabling regions to grow their own economies and capitalise on London’s status as a global city, as well as the immense talent of people and skills throughout the country. For this to be achieved, HS2 must be delivered without further delay, and in full. Short-sighted cost-cutting measures, such as terminating HS2 at Old Oak Common instead of connecting passengers into the centre at Euston, simply undermine the rationale of the line.    See also: HS2 reveals designs for eco-friendly Birmingham stations With political will, HS2 can be one of the greatest collaborations of the public and private sectors the country has ever seen, and the catalyst for investment across the UK. We have partnered with the S-PA on research looking at past lessons of national infrastructure across the UK and internationally, which we hope will further add to the debate when published later in the year. Not delivering on the full potential of HS2 would serve to drive regional resentment at a time when politicians need to be working to unite the country, not divide it. If the government is serious about bringing economic growth to all its regions, HS2 must be made a priority. Charles Begley is executive director at London Property Alliance