Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Deferred
Local communities impacted by HS2 pause, seeking transparency and input on interim solutions.
Recommendation
We heard concerns from the London Borough of Camden and Drummond Street Traders, who already face many years of disruption, and impact of the pause in construction on local residents and businesses and be absolutely transparent when it is possible to do so on what the revised timetable involves.35 We asked HS2 Ltd about the extended disruption and how it is engaging with the local community. It told us that it continues to have a lot of interaction with Camden residents and the local authority and that it is starting to explore how it can open up some areas for the local community to use. For example, converting the existing taxi rank into a temporary public space. HS2 Ltd acknowledged that it has a difficult job to put the project on ice for two years and told us that it wants to give local residents a chance to help influence what the interim solution looks like so that it is as palatable as possible for local people and businesses.36 30 Q 81 31 Qq 39–40, 42–43 32 Qq 78–80 33 Qq 93–95 34 Q 98 35 HS2006, HS2007 36 Qq 82–83, 86 HS2 Euston 13 2 Managing the wider HS2 programme Managing high inflation and contingency
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation to address concerns and be transparent, and has commenced the Euston Reset Programme to develop an affordable and deliverable Euston campus by April 2025, deferring transparency on the revised timetable until after this programme.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
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.