Quick Sale of Land Safeguarded for HS2 Is a ‘Mistake,’ Warns Infrastructure Chief

The Birmingham and Fazeley viaduct, part of the proposed route for the HS2 high speed rail scheme, in an undated handout photo. HS2/PA

The chair of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has warned against the immediate sale of land acquired for the second phase of High Speed 2 (HS2), suggesting a pause of three years.

In the wake of the government’s decision to axe the northern leg of HS2, safeguarding of the land for the project will be lifted.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it will take place “at the earliest opportunity.”

Under safeguarding measures, the HS2 land was protected from conflicting developments.

The end of safeguarding will affect areas in Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire.

“Any property that is no longer required for HS2 will be sold and a programme is being developed to do this,” the DfT said.

The NIC chairman, Sir John Armitt, told the BBC that a quick sale of properties was a “mistake.”

“I think that the land should be kept for at least two or three years to give the opportunity for people to revisit that and look at what can be done within that space and find a more cost-effective solution, not write it off today,” Sir John said.

He called the government’s decision a “knee-jerk, snap reaction.”

The NIC, headed by Sir John, provides the government with advice on long-term infrastructure challenges and is an executive agency sponsored by the Treasury.

According to Sir John, the government should consider a pause of three years to properly consider how Birmingham and Manchester can be best connected.

When he announced the cancellation of the HS2 line from Birmingham to Manchester on Oct. 4, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to reinvest £36 billion in new transport projects in the North and the Midlands, and across the UK.

The government’s Network North scheme is meant to deliver on that promise. Under the scheme, there are plans to develop rail lines, buses and roads across the North and the Midlands.

An additional investment of £12 billion will be made to better connect Manchester to Liverpool.

Sir John has called for a full evaluation of the Network North scheme.

“We had an integrated plan a few weeks ago, we’ve now lost that. There are a number of projects, some of which already existed, some new ones. Let’s get those properly turned into a well-thought-through, integrated plan for the future,” he said.

Responding to Mr. Sunak’s announcement earlier this month, Sir John said that it wasn’t clear how the Network North scheme will address “the gap left behind by HS2.”

According to NIC chairman, UK city regions have been basing their economic growth on the HS2 strategy, now abandoned by the government.

The NIC made recommendations to the government in its second National Infrastructure Assessment, published on Wednesday.

These include developing a comprehensive and long-term rail plan across the North and the Midlands and a £22 billion investment in major transport projects from 2028 to 2045.

The Commission said that Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester had the greatest need for improved transport capacity.

Government plans to deliver the HS2 between Euston in central London and the West Midlands are intact. The prime minister has confirmed fast service to run from Euston to central Birmingham and the commitment to deliver on the station at Old Oak Common.

Sir John said that it was “absolutely vital” to deliver the HS2 link to Euston, even if it means funding by public money.

A government spokesperson told the BBC that the Network North plan will deliver “the transport that matters most to people.”

“We’re adopting a fairer and more pragmatic approach to meeting net zero that supports households and families to make greener choices whilst easing the burdens on working people,” the spokesperson said.

PA contributed to this report.