Recommendation 26

HS2 Ltd does not monitor how much in total it spends on environmental mitigation. For example, we asked HS2 Ltd how much it was spending on wildlife migration schemes such as for the great crested newt at Halse Copse. In its follow–up letter, HS2 Ltd told us that it was not able 38 Qq 15–16, 18; Letter from DfT on cost breakdown of the HS2 bat mitigation structure at Sheephouse Wood, dated 31 January 2025 39 Qq 15–16, 18 40 Q 18; Letter from DfT on cost breakdown of the HS2 bat mitigation structure at Sheephouse Wood, dated 31 January 2025 41 Qq 15–16, 18 42 Q 16 43 Letter from DfT on cost breakdown of the HS2 bat mitigation structure at Sheephouse Wood, dated 31 January 2025 16 to provide that information as the provision and maintenance of habitat migration forms part of ‘integrated work packages’ and HS2 Ltd had set no requirement in these contracts to segregate the cost of mitigation schemes.44