Following the publication of the Prime Minister’s independent review into HS2 today, civil engineering contractors called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to recognise the proven value HS2 will bring across the UK for the long term.
The Prime Minister has stated his wish to review “whether and how we proceed” with HS2 ahead of the ‘Notice to Proceed’ decision for Phase 1 (London-West Midlands) due by the end of 2019. The review will assemble and test all the existing evidence in order to allow the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Transport and the government to make properly-informed decisions on the future of Phases 1 and 2 of the project, including the estimated cost and schedule position.
Commenting, CECA Director of External Affairs, Marie-Claude Hemming said: “CECA has long argued that HS2 is vital in helping the UK Government realise its ambition to rebalance the UK economy.
“The project will play a key role in securing economic growth post Brexit. Our research has shown that for every 1,000 jobs that are directly created in infrastructure construction, employment as a whole rises by 3,050 jobs. And for each £1 billion increase in infrastructure investment, UK-wide GDP increases by a total of £1.30 billion.
“But its benefits go further than simply economics, it is an investment in Britain’s future, making the whole of the UK an attractive place to live and work.
“HS2 offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to completely reshape the way we travel across the UK, joining up Britain and helping provide opportunities for the many.
“Cancelling or delaying the project, which is well underway, will leave a sad legacy of what world class infrastructure could have been and damage industry confidence for the foreseeable future.”
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