Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Department exploring minimum and value-maximisation design options for HS2 Euston station
Conclusion
We asked the Department to give us an indication of what a reduced design for Euston station might look like. The Department told us that it would need to examine two options before it could come to the right solution: the minimum station option that would support passenger services and meet requirements; and the value maximisation option of, for example, investing more in an integrated station and more in over-site development. In the example of a minimum station option, the Department said that it might have to look at cutting back on over-site development, even though that would not be welcome in terms of economic regeneration, which is one of the project’s aims.13
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and has commenced the Euston Reset Programme, aiming to develop an affordable Euston campus that maximizes benefits within available funding by April 2025, which reflects the committee's observation of the Department's planned options examination.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 1.2 The government has commenced the Euston Reset Programme, which aims to 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. 1.3 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. 1.4 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.