HS2 must unlock its transformative opportunities
National Federation of Builders
The National Federation of Builders respond to plans for HS2 to proceed.
Following a cabinet meeting, the Government has announced that plans for High Speed 2 (HS2) will proceed. The whole line, which links London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, has been approved but changes will be made on the second phase of the project – the routes to Manchester and Leeds – to save money.
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “HS2 will improve connectivity to the north and considerably reduce carbon emissions from freight and car journeys. The project will also ensure faster and cheaper regional services, increased electrification of our lines and abundant construction opportunities, from housing and commercial to employment and ancillary infrastructure.”
Beresford added: During the second phase, the Government might like to look at the procurement process, so that more regional players can win work. This will not only save money but ensure more of it stays in the communities that HS2 affects. To assist the Governments thinking, the NFB is currently undertaking a procurement survey for constructors, sub-contractors and clients and will feed this back to ministers, as soon as it is completed.”
