PM warned planning reforms are putting off voters in wake of Chesham & Amersham defeat June 19, 2021 Boris Johnson has been urged to rethink planning reforms in the wake of the Chesham & Amersham by-election defeat, which saw the Liberal Democrats overturn a 16,000 majority in a Tory stronghold. Writing in the Telegraph yesterday Conservative co-chairman Amanda Milling said voters’ concerns were “loud and clear” following the defeat. She said voters were [...]
New Birmingham HS2 station to cost £100m more than expected June 7, 2021 A new HS2 rail station in Birmingham will cost £100m more than originally expected, the company behind the controversial high speed rail project revealed today. Launching the procurement process to find a contractor to build Birmingham Interchange station, which is expected to open in 2026, HS2 said the contract was worth £370m. In 2019, however, [...]
Last anti-HS2 protestor removed from Euston Square Gardens tunnel February 26, 2021 The last anti-HS2 protestors have been safely removed from a tunnel underneath Euston Square Gardens, the rail firm said today. After three protestors left the tunnel yesterday, the final activist departed today, after 31 days underground. In total, nine people had hidden in the tunnel system, which had been dug in secret and was first [...]
HS2: Next phase of controversial rail link gets green light February 11, 2021 The next phase of the controversial HS2 rail link has today been approved by MPs. Lawmakers gave Royal Assent to phase 2a of the project, which connects Birmingham to Crewe. It will be built simultaneously with phase 1 of the rail line from London to the West Midlands. An additional 5,000 jobs will be supported [...]
City’s professional know-how matched with UK construction expertise could be a global titan February 11, 2021 Despite political enthusiasm for ‘Global Britain’, we are missing out on a sizeable slice of a $14 trillion a year worldwide construction market owing to a lack of collaboration between two otherwise successful industries – the built environment sector and financial/advisory services. The built environment and infrastructure sector is one of the unsung heroes of [...]
HS2 minister: Covid crisis has ‘strengthened’ case for high speed rail link January 6, 2021 The case for the controversial HS2 rail link has been bolstered by the coronavirus pandemic, the minister responsible for the project has told lawmakers. Speaking to the Transport Select Committee, Andrew Stephenson hit back at growing concerns that the current crisis has made the high speed line unnecessary. “You can argue that Covid has affected [...]
HS2 costs rise £800m just weeks after construction starts October 14, 2020 The cost of controversial rail link HS2 has risen another £800m, the government has admitted, just six months after the project was newly approved. Ministers said that the extra costs were related to removing more asbestos than had been expected, as well as on developing the terminus at Euston station. The increases were revealed in [...]
HS2 construction begins with promise to create 22,000 jobs September 4, 2020 Construction work on the controversial HS2 rail link began this morning with around 22,000 jobs expected to be created over the next few years as a result. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the project would “fire up economic growth and help to rebalance opportunity across this country for years to come.” The high speed [...]
HS2: MPs say controversial rail project ‘badly off course’ May 17, 2020 MPs have slammed the controversial HS2 rail project, saying that the scheme is “badly off course” and calling for far greater transparency from its executives. In a new report, the Public Accounts Committee criticised the body for failing to provide an accurate picture of the project’s health when providing evidence to the committee. It also [...]
HS2: New controllers needed on the nation’s biggest train set May 17, 2020 Only last month, Boris Johnson gave HS2 the official green light. But, despite HS2 Ltd being headed up by at least 47 staff paid more than the PM, the project is already coming off the rails. Today’s report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) highlights that HS2 has gone “badly off course” and costs are [...]