Latest news with #PlanningandInfrastructureBill
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
HS2 opening to be delayed beyond 2033
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to tell Parliament on Wednesday afternoon there is 'no reasonable way to deliver' the high-speed railway on schedule and within budget. The project has already suffered repeated delays and soaring costs despite being scaled back. Ms Alexander will tell the Commons she is drawing a 'line in the sand' over the beleaguered rail project, as the Government attempts to reset how the UK delivers major infrastructure. The Government intends to learn from the mistakes of HS2 so that they do a better job when it comes to projects like Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Lower Thames Crossing, it is understood. Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said there were 'serious problems' with HS2 'in terms of accountability, project overruns, costs'. He told LBC the Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a number of changes that will 'speed up the consenting process for nationally significant infrastructure'. He said: 'Frankly, when it comes to HS2, in some ways we're a bit of a laughing stock around the world in terms of how we handle infrastructure. 'As a Government, we're absolutely determined to turn that around.' The result of two reviews into HS2 are expected to be announced alongside the Transport Secretary's statement. The first of these is an interim report by Mark Wild, the chief executive of HS2 Ltd, who was appointed late last year. He will assess the construction of the project from London to Birmingham. A second, wider review into the governance and accountability of HS2 Ltd, led by James Stewart, will also report back. This is expected to set out what has gone wrong with the project, and what ministers can learn for future infrastructure projects. The Transport Secretary is also expected to address allegations of fraud by contractors to HS2 Ltd which have emerged recently. Earlier this week, it emerged HS2 Ltd reported a sub-contractor working on the rail line to HMRC following an internal probe. During the statement, Ms Alexander is set to announce a new chair of HS2 Ltd. The current chair, Sir Jon Thompson, previously announced he would stand down in the spring of this year. His replacement will be Mike Brown, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper. Mr Brown is the former commissioner for Transport for London, who helped to oversee the delivery of Crossrail, the transport project which became London's Elizabeth line. HS2 was originally due to run between London and Birmingham, then onto Manchester and Leeds, but the project was severely curtailed by the Conservatives in power because of spiralling costs. The first phase was initially planned to open by the end of 2026, but this was pushed back to between 2029 and 2033. In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham. In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66 billion. Concerns about the costs of the stunted project have persisted. Revelations in November last year that HS2 Ltd spent £100 million on a bat tunnel aimed at mitigating the railway's environmental impact stunned Westminster, and were singled out by Sir Keir Starmer for criticism.
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
HS2 opening to be delayed beyond 2033
The opening of HS2 will be delayed beyond the planned date of 2033, the Government will confirm. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to tell Parliament on Wednesday afternoon there is 'no reasonable way to deliver' the high-speed railway on schedule and within budget. The project has already suffered repeated delays and soaring costs despite being scaled back. Ms Alexander will tell the Commons she is drawing a 'line in the sand' over the beleaguered rail project, as the Government attempts to reset how the UK delivers major infrastructure. The Government intends to learn from the mistakes of HS2 so that they do a better job when it comes to projects like Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Lower Thames Crossing, it is understood. Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said there were 'serious problems' with HS2 'in terms of accountability, project overruns, costs'. He told LBC the Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a number of changes that will 'speed up the consenting process for nationally significant infrastructure'. He said: 'Frankly, when it comes to HS2, in some ways we're a bit of a laughing stock around the world in terms of how we handle infrastructure. 'As a Government, we're absolutely determined to turn that around.' The result of two reviews into HS2 are expected to be announced alongside the Transport Secretary's statement. The first of these is an interim report by Mark Wild, the chief executive of HS2 Ltd, who was appointed late last year. He will assess the construction of the project from London to Birmingham. A second, wider review into the governance and accountability of HS2 Ltd, led by James Stewart, will also report back. This is expected to set out what has gone wrong with the project, and what ministers can learn for future infrastructure projects. The Transport Secretary is also expected to address allegations of fraud by contractors to HS2 Ltd which have emerged recently. Earlier this week, it emerged HS2 Ltd reported a sub-contractor working on the rail line to HMRC following an internal probe. During the statement, Ms Alexander is set to announce a new chair of HS2 Ltd. The current chair, Sir Jon Thompson, previously announced he would stand down in the spring of this year. His replacement will be Mike Brown, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper. Mr Brown is the former commissioner for Transport for London, who helped to oversee the delivery of Crossrail, the transport project which became London's Elizabeth line. HS2 was originally due to run between London and Birmingham, then onto Manchester and Leeds, but the project was severely curtailed by the Conservatives in power because of spiralling costs. The first phase was initially planned to open by the end of 2026, but this was pushed back to between 2029 and 2033. In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham. In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66 billion. Concerns about the costs of the stunted project have persisted.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
HS2 opening to be delayed beyond 2033
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to tell Parliament on Wednesday afternoon there is 'no reasonable way to deliver' the high-speed railway on schedule and within budget. The project has already suffered repeated delays and soaring costs despite being scaled back. Ms Alexander will tell the Commons she is drawing a 'line in the sand' over the beleaguered rail project, as the Government attempts to reset how the UK delivers major infrastructure. The Government intends to learn from the mistakes of HS2 so that they do a better job when it comes to projects like Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Lower Thames Crossing, it is understood. Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said there were 'serious problems' with HS2 'in terms of accountability, project overruns, costs'. He told LBC the Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a number of changes that will 'speed up the consenting process for nationally significant infrastructure'. He said: 'Frankly, when it comes to HS2, in some ways we're a bit of a laughing stock around the world in terms of how we handle infrastructure. 'As a Government, we're absolutely determined to turn that around.' The result of two reviews into HS2 are expected to be announced alongside the Transport Secretary's statement. The first of these is an interim report by Mark Wild, the chief executive of HS2 Ltd, who was appointed late last year. He will assess the construction of the project from London to Birmingham. A second, wider review into the governance and accountability of HS2 Ltd, led by James Stewart, will also report back. This is expected to set out what has gone wrong with the project, and what ministers can learn for future infrastructure projects. The Transport Secretary is also expected to address allegations of fraud by contractors to HS2 Ltd which have emerged recently. Earlier this week, it emerged HS2 Ltd reported a sub-contractor working on the rail line to HMRC following an internal probe. During the statement, Ms Alexander is set to announce a new chair of HS2 Ltd. The current chair, Sir Jon Thompson, previously announced he would stand down in the spring of this year. His replacement will be Mike Brown, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper. Mr Brown is the former commissioner for Transport for London, who helped to oversee the delivery of Crossrail, the transport project which became London's Elizabeth line. HS2 was originally due to run between London and Birmingham, then onto Manchester and Leeds, but the project was severely curtailed by the Conservatives in power because of spiralling costs. The first phase was initially planned to open by the end of 2026, but this was pushed back to between 2029 and 2033. In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham. In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66 billion. Concerns about the costs of the stunted project have persisted. Revelations in November last year that HS2 Ltd spent £100 million on a bat tunnel aimed at mitigating the railway's environmental impact stunned Westminster, and were singled out by Sir Keir Starmer for criticism.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
HS2 opening to be delayed beyond 2033
The project has already suffered repeated delays and soaring costs despite being scaled back. Ms Alexander will tell the Commons she is drawing a 'line in the sand' over the beleaguered rail project, as the Government attempts to reset how the UK delivers major infrastructure. The Government intends to learn from the mistakes of HS2 so that they do a better job when it comes to projects like Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Lower Thames Crossing, it is understood. Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said there were 'serious problems' with HS2 'in terms of accountability, project overruns, costs'. He told LBC the Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a number of changes that will 'speed up the consenting process for nationally significant infrastructure'. He said: 'Frankly, when it comes to HS2, in some ways we're a bit of a laughing stock around the world in terms of how we handle infrastructure. 'As a Government, we're absolutely determined to turn that around.' The result of two reviews into HS2 are expected to be announced alongside the Transport Secretary's statement. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to announce the move on Wednesday (James Manning/PA) The first of these is an interim report by Mark Wild, the chief executive of HS2 Ltd, who was appointed late last year. He will assess the construction of the project from London to Birmingham. A second, wider review into the governance and accountability of HS2 Ltd, led by James Stewart, will also report back. This is expected to set out what has gone wrong with the project, and what ministers can learn for future infrastructure projects. The Transport Secretary is also expected to address allegations of fraud by contractors to HS2 Ltd which have emerged recently. Earlier this week, it emerged HS2 Ltd reported a sub-contractor working on the rail line to HMRC following an internal probe. During the statement, Ms Alexander is set to announce a new chair of HS2 Ltd. The current chair, Sir Jon Thompson, previously announced he would stand down in the spring of this year. Work is continuing on the HS2 project (Ben Whitley/PA) His replacement will be Mike Brown, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper. Mr Brown is the former commissioner for Transport for London, who helped to oversee the delivery of Crossrail, the transport project which became London's Elizabeth line. HS2 was originally due to run between London and Birmingham, then onto Manchester and Leeds, but the project was severely curtailed by the Conservatives in power because of spiralling costs. The first phase was initially planned to open by the end of 2026, but this was pushed back to between 2029 and 2033. In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham. In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66 billion. Concerns about the costs of the stunted project have persisted. Revelations in November last year that HS2 Ltd spent £100 million on a bat tunnel aimed at mitigating the railway's environmental impact stunned Westminster, and were singled out by Sir Keir Starmer for criticism.
South Wales Guardian
11-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Planning reforms ‘critical' to 1.5m homes pledge delivery clear Commons
MPs voted by 306 to 174, majority 132, to approve the Planning and Infrastructure Bill at third reading on Tuesday evening. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the Bill, which aims to improve certainty and decision-making in the planning system, will help to tackle the UK's housing crisis. Meanwhile, shadow housing secretary Kevin Hollinrake described the draft legislation as 'dangerous' and warned it could lead to 'rows of uninspiring concrete boxes'. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Pennycook said: 'This landmark Bill will get Britain building again, unleash economic growth and deliver on the promise of national renewal. 'It is critical in helping the Government achieving its ambitious plan for change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament. 'When it comes to delivering new homes and critical infrastructure, the status quo is patently failing the country and failing the British people. 'We can and we must do things differently, this Bill will enable us to do so. It is transformative. It will fundamentally change how we build things in this country, and in doing so it will help us tackle the housing crisis and raise living standards in every part of the country.' Mr Hollinrake argued it is not possible to 'concrete our way to community', adding: 'This Bill, in its current form, is not just flawed, it is dangerous. It risks eroding trust in the planning system and widening the gulf between government and the governed. 'We need homes for first-time buyers, for young families, for key workers, for the next generation. But we need the right homes in the right places, shaped by the right principles. 'What are we being offered instead is a top-down model driven by arbitrary targets and central dictats. The result: solar settlements, identikit developments, rows of uninspiring concrete boxes that bear no relation to the history, the heritage or the hopes of the communities they are building.' This comes after Labour MPs rebelled on Monday over the Government's plans to change current nature protections in the planning system. Campaigners have raised concerns the Bill will allow developers to effectively disregard environmental rules and community concerns, increasing the risk of sewage in rivers, flooding and loss of valued woods and parks. Mr Pennycook said the 'suboptimal status quo' for the environment and development is not working, as he pledged to introduce a nature restoration fund to bolster conservation efforts. He added: 'We want to take forward a new strategic approach across wider geographies, ensuring that Natural England bring forward plans that go beyond offsetting harm to driving nature recovery as well as unlocking development.' During the Bill's report stage on Tuesday, Conservative former minister Robbie Moore accused the Government of permitting 'absolute theft' in its compulsory purchase order (CPO) reforms. The Bill will allow an inspector or, where there are no objectors, authorities to remove 'hope value' from land when a CPO is made, meaning any uplift calculated on the basis that a developer could be given planning permission in future is ignored. The MP for Keighley and Ilkley said: 'So-called 'hope value' is not a capitalist trick, it is not a racket, it is not unfair, it is simply the true market value of the property. 'Property rights matter. They are the foundation of our society. 'If the state chooses to use its powers to confiscate property of a law-abiding person and then they must stipulate on how that land must be used, and then tell the landowner how much they are entitled to receive from the state, that is wrong and in my view is an absolute theft of private property.' Labour MP Chris Hinchliff urged the Government to go further, calling for it to remove 'hope value' for any land or property which is being compulsory-purchased for the purpose of delivering housing targets. The North East Hertfordshire MP said his amendment 68 would 'give councils the land assembly powers necessary to acquire sites to meet local housing need at current use value, and so do away with speculative hope value prices, which put taxpayers' money into wealthy landowners pockets'. 'This would finally make it affordable for local authorities to deliver the new generation of council homes. That is the true solution to this nation's housing crisis,' he added. The Government has previously said it will ensure that compensation paid to landowners through the CPO process is 'fair but not excessive' and that development corporations can operate effectively. The Bill will now be sent to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
