Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
We asked the Department about the private sector investment that would be needed as part...
Conclusion
We asked the Department about the private sector investment that would be needed as part of delivering the benefits expected from the programme. The Department told us that it had started to take steps to encourage private sector investment to ensure these were delivered. For example, it was working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation on their investment plans and the government had announced £50 million in the Budget to support development around Birmingham Interchange station to allow more land for development and regeneration. However, the Department conceded that the sooner it could provide certainty around its integration rail plan and what is expected for the rest of the rail network, the more helpful it would be to ensure that the investment that it expected to stimulate happened in practice. The Department did not commit to a date on which the integrated rail plan will be published but could only say that it will be published “soon”.54
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.