Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Both the Department and the West Midlands Combined Authority provided examples of how cities and...
Conclusion
Both the Department and the West Midlands Combined Authority provided examples of how cities and regions that stand to benefit from High Speed 2 have ambitious plans for how to capitalise on the opportunity that High Speed 2 provides. For example, the development of public transport links in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and the construction of new housing in Birmingham City Centre. The Department told us that there were examples of where benefits realisation work was happening, but that its next step was to develop a “programmatic” approach to bringing together government departments, local authorities and private developers to ensure that the benefits were realised.50
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 The department wrote to the Committee in November 2021 setting out its benefits approach for the HS2 programme and stated that they are committed to maximising benefits and minimising negative impacts. This includes maximizing positive outcomes; from increasing rail capacity and connectivity to reducing carbon emissions and delivering on jobs and skills, but also mitigating disbenefits including road disruption during construction. 4.3 HS2 Ltd will publish, and share with stakeholders, its first bi-annual Benefits Update. This publication will build on the data shared in the third HS2 6-monthly report to Parliament and highlight through case studies the strong work being undertaken on benefits. 4.4 HS2 Ltd has a strategy to identify, monitor and evaluate the core benefits funded and within scope of the programme and has implemented ‘Benefits Baselines’ for each of its phases, linked to the strategic and economic objectives in the relevant business cases. The department and HS2 Ltd are working towards the publication of a joint Benefits Management and Evaluation Strategy next year. In addition to the benefits directly arising from the work on the programme the department is focused on maximizing wider benefits catalysed by HS2. The department is working with other government departments as their support and collaboration is needed to unlock these opportunities, via regular engagement and through appropriate governance. 4.5 HS2 offers a major opportunity to catalyse local regeneration, supporting the government’s Levelling-up agenda. A devolved approach has been taken to regeneration at HS2 station places, with local government leading and central government in support. The department is working closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to determine how central government can help local places make the most of HS2.