Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 38
38
Accepted
HS2 Ltd spent £592 million on land for cancelled Phase 2 route
Conclusion
Up to the end of March 2024, HS2 Ltd had spent £3.7 billion on buying land and property along the HS2 route, of which £592 million relates to the cancelled Phase 2.66 The types of land and property include agricultural, commercial and residential, with HS2 Ltd purchasing around a thousand properties and 17 square kilometres of land on the Phase 2 route. HS2 Ltd acts as an agent in purchases and disposals for the Department, with the land and property held as assets of the Department.
Government Response Summary
The government responds to the perceived recommendation by stating that preparatory work for a Phase 2 land disposal programme is underway, which includes a review of the land portfolio and identification of Crichel Down properties. It commits to providing updates on next steps to the Committee and in future six-monthly reports.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 7.2 Preparatory work on a disposal programme for Phase 2 is already underway. As part of these preparations, the department is undertaking a review of the portfolio of land that was previously acquired for Phase 2. This includes the identification of properties subject to Crichel Down Rules. 7.3 The department will write to the Committee to confirm the next steps for a disposal programme. The Department will take time to carefully develop a disposal programme that delivers value for money for taxpayers and does not disrupt local property markets. 7.4 The department agrees to include the information requested by the Committee regarding the disposal programme in a future six-monthly report to Parliament. As part of this update, the department will include its approach to addressing future West Coast Main Line capacity issues and rail connectivity in the north, following the outcome of the spending review.