HS2 rail project cost hits £65m

The cost of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project has reached £65 million, the Government has announced. New Transport Minister Simon Burns revealed the figure in a written response to a question posed by his fellow Conservative MP and former Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan. According to Mr Burns, HS2 total expenditure round to the nearest whole number was £9 million in 2009-10, £24 million in 2010-11, £56 million in 2011-12 and £65 million up until the end of August this year.

Part of the line will run through Mrs Gillan’s Chesham and Amersham constituency in Buckinghamshire and she is a firm opponent of the scheme, having previously threatened to quit her cabinet post if it went ahead. In an interview with Sky News last weekend Mrs Gillan said HS2 is:

“…very destructive of the environment and secondly it’s not good value for money. The “cost-benefit ratios” have changed since the previous Labour government announced the plan two-and-a-half years ago. We need a plan now for infrastructure, things like electrification of the main line down to Cardiff and the Valleys line that I lobbied for and got within government for Wales.”

If you are affected by HS2, speak to our team of property dispute resolution lawyers for advice on claims. Contact a member of the team on 08456 381381 or email propertydisputes@ibblaw.co.uk.