Doubt over Leeds leg of HS2 as minister fails to confirm project

A TRANSPORT minister has refused to confirm whether the Leeds leg of HS2 will go ahead amid doubts over the future of the scheme.

Andrew Stephenson, the dedicated minister for HS2, was asked by the shadow railways minister whether the eastern branch of the project is to be mothballed.

The plans are known as Phase 2b and would provide upgraded transport links between Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and Birmingham, in addition to a new train station in Leeds.

Labour’s Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi asked Mr Stephenson whether he would confirm that HS2’S eastern leg would be built “in full, on time and on budget”.

“I think the minister knows my answer because as the Prime Minister announced we are working on the Integrated Rail Plan,” Mr Stephenson said. “The Integrated Rail Plan is progressing well, and it is right that ministers take time to fully consider all the evidence from all the stakeholders, regional leaders, national infrastructure commission and the Government’s own analysis before making a decision.

“This is a cross-government decision.

We intend to publish the Integrated Plan soon.” In July, Mr Stephenson said the Integrated Rail Plan would not be unveiled “as soon as some people would like” amid calls from northern railway bodies for its publication to be brought forward.

Reports emerged last month claiming the eastern branch of HS2 could be scaled back as part of Treasury efforts to reduce public spending after the Covid pandemic.

Jake Berry, the former Northern Powerhouse minister, subsequently warned Rishi Sunak that scrapping the Leeds phase would fail the “litmus test” of whether the Government will deliver on promises made to Red Wall voters.

The total costs of HS2 have tripled to more than £100 billion across the past decade. Its first phase, which will link London to Birmingham, is under construction.

A report released last year by the National Infrastructure Commission recommended prioritising the western leg of Phase 2b, which revolves around Manchester, but made no mention of the Leeds branch.

The Department for Transport has insisted that no final decisions have been made and that the Integrated Rail Plan will be published “soon”.