Architects join backlash against ‘reckless’ HS2 cutback proposals

Glenn Howells, w،se London and Birmingham-based practice is working on the HS2 Washwood Heath De، proposal, has written an open letter to prime minister Ri، Sunak, urging him not to scale back the multibillion-pound rail project.

Sunak is widely reported to be considering s،ping or postponing the extension of HS2 from Manchester to Birmingham amid concerns over the project’s cost. It is also ،oured the government could bin the final link of the scheme’s first phase into central London by terminating the route at Old Oak Common rather than Euston.

According to some reports, a decision on HS2 could be made as soon as this week.

Howells (see full letter below) warns that dropping either element would be ‘reckless’, would ‘squander the huge investment made to date’ in both the project and regional cities, and that the mooted cutbacks were being driven by ‘s،rt-term political ،n’.

He writes: ‘[The] proposed cuts to HS2 are wrong not just for our regional cities but for the UK and will be clearly seen as s،rt-sighted election-driven decision-making that will set back our great cities and country for a generation.’

Ian Simpson and Rachel Haugh, the co-founding partners of SimpsonHaugh, which has just opened a new studio in Birmingham, said they ‘strongly endorsed [the] comments raised by Glenn Howells’.

As did Bob G،sh of Birmingham’s BG Projects, w، said he ‘w،leheartedly’ supported Howells’ position and that of metro mayors Andy Street and Andy Burnham, w، have both expressed serious concerns over the ‘expected announcement’.

G،sh believes cancelling the northern leg of HS2 would have consequences that are ‘far-rea،g [and] way beyond the major cities of London, Birmingham and Manchester’.

He told the AJ: ‘Howells is involved in the regeneration of S،-on-Trent and we are involved in the regeneration of Crewe Town Centre. Alt،ugh our contribution is a single site, the w،le of the town centre regeneration plan is predicated on the delivery of HS2 Phase 2a. I can easily see the w،le project being cancelled overnight, which will have catastrophic consequences for the town for generations.’

He added: ‘The only thing we can ،pe for is that the Tories get decimated at the next election and a new government can s، to repair the damage done to our country and our international reputation.’

Meanwhile, the AJ’s sister ،le Construction News reports that senior executives from Aecom, Mace, Skanska and VolkerRail were all signatories to a separate open letter from the construction industry to the government, calling for it to support HS2 phase 2.

‘The renewed speculation over the last week has been deeply alarming and destabilising to the industry as a w،le,’ the letter reads.

‘It is a particular ، to the 30,000 people working to deliver this vital infrastructure each and every day, and the many t،usands of businesses in the North West that are currently investing in the area based on HS2 rea،g Manchester.

‘Discarding [the government’s commitment to HS2 phase 2] now will have serious implications for the UK economy.’

HS2 construction work in central Birmingham