HS2

Board members of major clients, government figures, a mayor and the head of construction's skills body are set to be among those making headlines in the New Year. Here are 10 people the industry will be watching in 2022.

Andrew Haines It can’t be easy being the head of a…

With the government having spent billions on the coronavirus response, the pressure on megaprojects to deliver value has never been greater. Megan Kelly examines the influence of schemes such as HS2 and Crossrail, and asks how best to budget in a post-pandemic world

“The poor old contractors get killed over expenditure,”…

Friday 4 September marked the start of main works on the HS2 rail megaproject – a largely symbolic moment given the scale of endeavours to date. It is not every project where the installation of 2,750-tonne bridge – the first permanent structure, moved into position in early August – might…

The Court of Appeal provided both good and bad news for HS2 last week, issuing verdicts on two fiercely contested cases involving the megaproject. In the first, the court ruled that HS2 was not subject to the same arguments that in February saw government decisions on Heathrow expansion ruled unlawful.…

When facing HS2 critics, Michael Dyke doesn’t want his staff to hide or be fearful. The Balfour Beatty/Vinci (BBV) HS2 joint venture managing director says he insists on respect and sensitivity, but doesn’t believe in running away. Leading the development of the £5bn central section of the megaproject, between north…

Following the government’s decision to approve HS2 Construction News spoke to the industry leaders about the implications of the megaproject getting the go-ahead

If the construction industry is relieved about the prime minister’s decision last week to commit to HS2 it is keeping quiet about it. Perhaps it is a desire to…

With work on the first phase of the rail scheme linking London to Birmingham set to go ahead, Ian Weinfass looks at the timeline of imminent procurement information for the project

By the end of March The period by which completion of the project would be further significantly delayed if work…

There was some cheer in the construction industry yesterday as HS2’s future was – apparently – confirmed by the prime minister. A pipeline of work worth billions and guaranteed for up to 20 years is now in place. Don’t be fooled, however, into thinking the way ahead is clear. There…

Organisational change is one of the crucial caveats to the prime minister’s approval of the HS2 project.

Boris Johnson pulled no punches in his criticism of the body tasked with delivering the high-speed rail line: “I am drawing a clear line under the mismanagement of the past,” he told the House…

The prime minister’s fulsome backing for HS2 is good news for the construction sector. With luck, the Oakervee review will prove to be the final episode of government indecision about the landmark project, though I doubt it will be the last inquiry into it. But with a project of HS2’s…