Following his recent appointment as the new chair of HS2 Ltd, Sir David Higgins has been tasked with reviewing the £42.6 billion cost of the scheme.

He will report to the Transport Secretary in March, before the second reading of the Hybrid Bill.

The review will consider how, through better planning and early engagement with the industry, the benefits of HS2 can not only be delivered earlier but also at a lower cost.

Building on the work of Lord Deighton's HS2 Growth Taskforce, Sir David will also consider how to ensure that HS2 delivers benefits like jobs and growth.


Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said: "Sir David Higgins, currently chief executive of Network Rail, was appointed as the new chairman of HS2 Ltd because of his world class record on infrastructure delivery. As chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority he ensured the UK Olympic Park was built on time and on budget.

"That is why I have commissioned Sir David in his new role to report to me by March on how the HS2 project can be brought in under budget and how it can best maximise the benefits for all parts of the country‎.

"The new north-south line is essential to free up capacity on the existing rail network and bring economic growth to the whole of the country, but I want to ensure that we get these benefits at the best price not any price."

(CD/IT)