Responding to the National Audit Office’s report on High Speed Two: A progress update, Nick Baveystock, Director General of the Institution of Civil Engineers, said:
“What is important to remember, regardless of the decision government might take on the future of HS2, is the challenges the project seeks to solve are significant. We need a network that can meet the demands of commuters, now and in the future, by tackling overcrowding, resilience and reliability. The government must also find ways to keep the UK connected, while meeting our 2050 net-zero target.
"Whilst the nature of major projects can be uncertain, it is important that we also focus on the wider, long-term benefits they can bring to society - the whole-life, economic, social and environmental value must be given more weight in procurement decisions. We also need to explain and demonstrate to the public the value and wider benefits that major infrastructure projects bring.”
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