Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Deferred
Department and HS2 Ltd recognise need for improved balance between environmental compliance and cost.
Conclusion
The Department strongly agreed, however, about how the balance between compliance and cost should be considered when delivering national infrastructure in the future.41 HS2 Ltd also recognised that it was a complex issue and a sensitive area, telling us that the structure needed local planning permission from Buckinghamshire Council which led to at least a four–year delay which was eventually resolved by the planning inspector.42
Government Response Summary
The government agrees but will provide a preliminary response by July 2025, with a final response by early 2026, as the full assessment depends on proposed measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which are not yet finalized or received Royal Assent. The department is working with DEFRA on these measures.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 4.2 The department intends to provide the Committee with a preliminary response in its letter to the Committee before the Summer recess begins in July 2025. 4.3 The proposed measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which would inform a re-assessment of this issue, including the Nature Restoration Fund and Environmental Delivery Plans, are not anticipated to be finalised, nor receive Royal Assent, until later in the year. 4.4 Once the measures are confirmed, and it is understood how they are intended to work in practice, the department will provide a final response to the Committee. This should be possible by early 2026. 4.5 The department is already working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to inform operation of the measures in response to the issues raised by the legal requirements for the HS2 bat mitigation structure.