HS2 works may have compounded flooding in some areas, according to the construction commissioner scrutinising the project.
In his latest report, covering the second quarter of 2024, independent commissioner for HS2 Sir Mark Worthington said he had heard “a number of reports of localised flooding impacting upon residents and communities”.
He said: “In a limited number of cases, HS2 works may have contributed to the problems” adding that as winter approaches, contractors ought to be “alert to potential flooding problems and act quickly where this occurs”.
However, the commissioner, who is tasked with monitoring the impact of HS2’s construction on the public, acknowledged that it had been “a particularly wet year” and said “the wider issue has been the British weather”.
“Engagement teams will need to explain the obvious with patience and understanding,” he added.
“I welcome the fact that in some areas, HS2, though not responsible, has been working with local authorities, other agencies and landowners to try to coordinate responses to the problems.”
Elsewhere in his report Worthington said that the decision to discontinue HS2 Phase 2b had led to a restructure and loss of jobs at HS2 Ltd, which raises “potential reasons for concerns” regarding public engagement.
“The loss of this experience and the reduction in numbers of personnel working directly for HS2 Ltd will shift the onus on dealing with public engagement towards the contractor teams,” he said.
“They will need to absorb many of the lessons which HS2 Ltd has learned over the past seven years and to adjust their working practices to mirror HS2’s experiences.
“I shall be observing closely how the new structure meets the challenges and I hope that there is no falling back of standards of public engagement.”
