The Government has delivered its latest six monthly report on the progress of HS2 to Parliament.

As many will be aware, High Speed 2 (“HS2) is one of the country’s key infrastructure projects. The building of the initial phase of HS2, despite being beset by problems, continues to be progressed on the main initial trunk from Old Oak Common to Birmingham Curzon Street. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Huw Merriman MP, in his recent update to Parliament, described the progress on this London to Birmingham section as ‘significant’.

Amongst the recent achievements that Merriman highlighted to Parliament was the progress of tunnelling work in Warwickshire and the Chilterns, and there being more than 350 active construction sites on this part of the route. The hoped-for (not very precise) target of the 2029-2033 completion date of this section remains in place.

Progress on the ground is, however almost non-existent elsewhere on the route. There remains deep concern over the project's cost as a whole, with the Government blaming COVID and inflation driven by the war in Ukraine. To ensure annual spending limits are not exceeded (and conveniently deferring the issue until after the next General Election), the Government has accordingly decided to postpone any further construction at Euston for a period of two years, with construction also not starting on the West-Midlands to Crewe branch in the same period. The hope is that cheaper options will be found for those areas in the meantime.

The Government is highly concerned as to the costs to link the line to Euston, which are projected to be £2.2 billion over estimate. The proposed link to Euston may well eventually be significantly altered to try and cut costs. This will lead to more uncertainty for residents and businesses in the area.

As is clear from the latest report, that despite the Government messaging, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the whole of HS2, aside from the section from Old Oak Common to Birmingham Curzon Street. Outside of this, what will eventually be built at all, is far from clear.

One problem which has been reduced recently for HS2, is that of protesters. The line has been the target of considerable protests from environmental groups. The Report notes that since a wide-ranging injunction was granted to HS2 Ltd prohibiting trespass on, and the obstruction of access to, acquired land, disruption has fallen. The interim injunction was granted in April 2022.

This underlines the power of injunctions, which can be utilised by landowners when named protesters and persons unknown enter land and disrupt the landowner’s activities. Protesters have likely been deterred by the serious consequences, which breaching injunctions can have, with some trespassers being sentenced to immediate prison terms.