Recommendation 24

HS2 Ltd described the work it was doing to protect the environment as the “untold story” of the programme. It stated that there would be no net loss to biodiversity from phases 1 and 2a, and that there could be a net gain to biodiversity from Phase 2b. HS2 Ltd provided examples of work it was doing to minimise its environmental impact. It told us that it had already planted 700,000 trees and bushes and plans to develop a ‘green corridor’ with around 7 million trees and shrubs and four square kilometres of land for wildlife. We look forward to the publication of the first environmental sustainability report for High Speed 2, which should provide an opportunity for HS2 Ltd to clarify the impact of the programme on the natural environment.55 Ensuring the skills to deliver