Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Deferred
Existing HS2 Euston report was late and lacked sufficient cost information
Conclusion
Why the existing report was late and contained so little information
Government Response Summary
The government deflected from explaining why the past report was late and lacked information, instead detailing the future Euston Reset Programme's ambition to confirm an affordable and deliverable scheme by April 2025.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. develop an affordable Euston campus that maximises delivery of benefits against prioritised outcomes within available funding. The overall ambition for the Reset Programme is to confirm an updated scheme covering the scope of the HS2 station, first phase of Redevelopment of the Conventional Rail Station (RECS), and any development enabling works, which is affordable and deliverable, by April 2025. The Programme is being led by the Department for Transport (the department), with The Euston Partnership (TEP) fulfilling the role of programme manager and HS2 Ltd, Network Rail and Lendlease, (the Master Development Partner) involved in development work. HS2 Ltd is undertaking work in order to understand the key cost drivers of the current station design and the reasons why the station cost increased following the move to a 10-platform single-stage build design in 2021. The department is also working with Camden Council, Transport for London, and the Greater London Authority in order to carefully prioritise requirements and to consider compromises on transport and wider development requirements. The Reset Programme has been designed to consider a broad range of potential early options for the Campus – adopting an approach to design that encourages all previously held assumptions, requirements, and constraints to be challenged with a view to securing as many benefits as can be afforded.