Stephen Marcos Jones, CEO of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), which represents the companies who design, deliver and manage our national infrastructure and built environment, comments on today’s speculation around HS2:

“Today’s media reports that HS2 may not proceed as planned into Euston are concerning, if true. We have already spent significant sums on the design and delivery of this transformational major project which will bring some of our major economic areas closer together, help to relieve capacity across the entire rail network, and ensure we can create a carbon friendly alternative to domestic air travel.

“Last minute changes of this nature will do nothing but add complication, delay and expense to the project where construction has already started. Scaling back its ambition further, at this stage, will just mean the economic and social benefits of HS2 for communities across the UK is further watered down.

“Our national infrastructure should not become a political football. We need to ensure that major projects can proceed confidently if they are – ultimately – to be successful.”