Recommendation 4

We are increasingly concerned that the Department and HS2 Ltd do not yet know how they will turn the benefits promised from High Speed 2 into a reality, including what additional investments will be needed or how these will be funded. The Department claims that High Speed 2 is a catalyst for investment, jobs and growth but also acknowledges that it needs to focus on making sure that the programme achieves what is intended. The Department needs to turn those intentions into a plan that brings together local authorities, the private sector and other Departments. There are some examples of the Department encouraging private sector investment, such as £50 million announced in the Budget for development around the Birmingham Interchange station, and the programme’s promise of regional job creation. However, despite hearing that pockets of activity to realise benefits is happening, we are concerned the Department does not yet have an integrated programme to delivering these benefits. We are disappointed to hear that local jobs are not being created in the numbers expected. Realising the benefits for the Midlands and the North is dependent on removing the uncertainty around the outcome of the integrated rail plan. Recommendation: The Department and HS2 Ltd should write to the Committee within three months, describing their strategy to identify, monitor and evaluate the benefits of the programme. The Committee will monitor what progress has been made against this when we next revisit High Speed 2.