HS2 delay to drive up costs, leaked document shows

DELAYING HS2 will increase costs, put jobs at risk and could force construction companies into bankruptcy, a leaked document has indicated.

A briefing note prepared by the Department for Transport “blows apart” the Transport Secretary’s claims that extending the timetable for HS2 will save money, Labour says.

Mark Harper last week announced that HS2’S timetable would be pushed back as a cost-saving measure. Part of the line, from Birmingham to Crewe, would be delayed by two years.

But the leaked briefing note found that “additional costs will be created by deferring expenditure on the programme” and also concedes that there would be “some impact on jobs”.

Speaking in the Commons, Louise Haigh, the shadow transport secretary, said: “Isn’t it time the minister came clean? This absurd plan will hit jobs, hurt growth, and cost taxpayers even more.”

Huw Merriman, transport minister, said he could not comment on leaked reports but a source said the document was not an official memo but rather a list of questions and answers addressing hypothetical scenarios.