HS2 construction officially begins
The company say thousands of jobs will be created, including in Buckinghamshire.
Last updated 4th Sep 2020
Today construction officially begins on HS2 in Buckinghamshire.
HS2 Ltd has today (4/9) announced the formal start of construction on the project, highlighting the large number of jobs the project will be recruiting for in the coming months and years.
But the project hasn't been without controversy, as prep work around Aylesbury has caused a lot of concern from those living nearby.
Earlier this year, on 15 April, the Department for Transport (DfT) gave approval for HS2 Ltd to issue Notice to Proceed (NtP) to the four Main Works Civils Contractors (MWCCs) working on the project to commence full detailed design and construction of Phase One of the HS2 railway (the route from London - West Midlands).
Today's symbolic announcement signals that the MWCCs are moving from enabling works, scheme design and preparatory work, to full construction of the railway.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
"HS2 is at the heart of our plans to build back better - and with construction now formally underway, it's set to create around 22,000 new jobs.
"As the spine of our country's transport network, the project will be vital in boosting connectivity between our towns and cities.
"But HS2's transformational potential goes even further. By creating hundreds of apprenticeships and thousands of skilled jobs, HS2 will fire up economic growth and help to rebalance opportunity across this country for years to come."
Creating thousands of jobs
The move to construction also heralded a 'jobs boom' on the project, demonstrating the value HS2 is bringing to the economy many years before it is complete, particularly in the post-COVID economic environment.
Over 4,000 roles are going to be created in the next two years, many based in Milton Keynes, as work ramps up in the area to construct the Chilterns tunnel.
HS2 Ltd itself is already directly recruiting for 500 new roles over the next three months, with the majority based in Birmingham, as the project moves into the construction phase. The forecast jobs boost is a clear sign of the key part that HS2 is already playing in supporting Britain's post-coronavirus economic recovery.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
"Today marks a major milestone in this government's ambitions to build back better from Covid-19.
"Shovels in the ground to deliver this new railway means thousands of jobs building the future of our country's infrastructure.
"This fantastic moment is what leaders across the North and Midlands have called for - action to level up our country by boosting capacity on our railways, improving connections between our regions, and spreading prosperity."
Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2 Ltd said:
"This is a hugely exciting moment in the progress of HS2. After 10 years of development and preparatory work, today we can formally announce the start of full construction, unlocking thousands of jobs and supply chain opportunities across the project.
"We are already seeing the benefits that building HS2 is bringing to the UK economy in the short term, but it's important to emphasise how transformative the railway will be for our country when operational. With the start of construction, the reality of high speed journeys joining up Britain's biggest cities in the North and Midlands and using that connectivity to help level up the country has just moved a step closer."
Over budget, but worth it?
The HS2 railway is a significant investment both in the near and longer-term economic health of the country, the company says.
They say that at this crucial time HS2 is already driving investment right across the country.
Jobs, including apprenticeships, are beginning to be released on HS2's construction partners' websites and will also be promoted through employment partnerships with local authorities and specialist employment support agencies.
HS2 Ltd. say promoting job vacancies in this way helps HS2 to ensure that local people benefit from the thousands of opportunities available. HS2 forecasts that the project will create at least 2,000 apprenticeships on Phase One.