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Rishi Sunak’s decision to scrap the second phase of HS2 will cost up to £100m and it could take three years to shut down sites where work has begun, an official report has revealed.
The former prime minister’s plans also mean the government has £592m worth of land and property on the route from Birmingham to Manchester it needs to flog, which the government spending watchdog has warned could take years and distort local housing markets.
The National Audit Office (NAO) laid bare the cost of Mr Sunak’s decision to scrap phase 2 of the high speed rail plan, first revealed by The Independent last September.
The former PM used his conference speech that October to confirm plans to scrap HS2’s northern leg, sparking fury among local leaders, business chiefs and senior Tories including David Cameron.
He said the decision would save £36bn, which Mr Sunak promised to redirect towards transport projects including fixing potholes and upgrading motorways.
Labour’s newly appointed transport secretary Louise Haigh said the NAO report laid bare how the Conservatives had “allowed the costs to spiral entirely out of control”.
She added: “We are reviewing this report’s findings, alongside the position we have inherited on HS2 and wider transport infrastructure and will set out next steps in due course.
“Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain – and we’re committed to delivering infrastructure that works for the whole country.”
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Source: independent.co.uk
