HS2 in numbers
Initial price tag for the project (2009)
£37.5 billion
The Oakervee Review estimate (2019)
£80.7 to £88.7 billion
Lord Berkeley’s estimate (2019)
£100.2 to £110 billion
Number of
residential
properties, farms
or plots of land
purchased by
HS2 between
2011 and 2018
to make way for
the line
902
Source: Freedom of Information request by STOP HS2 of HS2 Ltd.
HS2 expansion Strategic HR
“It doesn’t have to be hugely regular, but as a
baseline that kind of connection can step
relationships through very effectively.”
The power of connection
Though at the moment we may not be able
to quantify HS2’s impact, if the project is
successful it will change things in a big way
for many regions of England.
Ding is headquartered in Dublin, and
while this company and many others may
not immediately and directly see the impact
of HS2 – Mullan argues that the project
contributes to a wider global evolution.
“What you see is a rapid evolution in
workplace environments with companies
and businesses being able to have their
organisations distributed, both observing their
market needs but equally operating in a more
integrated way,” she says.
“Technology is both an enabler and a
forcing function of that, and the HS2 project is
part of that general evolution across all types
of technology.”
In light of the current climate, particularly
as the world faces mounting challenges due to
the spread of the COVID-19 virus, one thing
clear to Mullan is the need for adaptability.
“Where and how we work is historically
informed by the traditional way of physically
operating out of one place. I think that now
has well and truly changed,” she adds.
The potential but as yet unclear
negatives of the project are what Ricoh’s
Wallis says makes it difficult to include in
strategic planning.
“It is easier for an organisation to make
plans when they know more firmly what
they’re planning around ... For the positive
impact it’s as easy to plan as if nothing is going
to happen, but then reap the benefits of it
when it does,” she says.
Though the network could contribute to
broader trends in flexible and remote working,
as well as talent sourcing, KDR’s Dexter
reflects on how important it is to keep HS2
in perspective.
“I don’t think HS2 is a commuter line. I see
HS2 as a connector line. It’s the sort of thing
that enables business to say that they are multi
centre, as you’re not going to want to put all
your eggs in one basket in terms of one town
in some cases, but it enables teams to travel,”
he says.
Steel says the only frustration at present
is that organisations are eager to reap the
benefits of the line as soon as possible.
“Businesses want it to happen, and they
want it to happen soon.” HR
Cost of property and
land acquisition made by HS2
between 2011 and 2018
Nearing £600
million
Total estimated cost of purchasing land
and property needed to build Phase 1
of the line
£4.96 billion
Proposed line length (full network)
330miles(530 km)
Normal cruising speed
320 km/h (200 mph)
Number of employees
at HS2
390
Number of stations
Over 25
Peak-hour rail capacity
34,900 people
New construction jobs
created by the project
17,000
People served
by the network
Approx.
30
million
hrmagazine.co.uk April 2020 HR 25
/hrmagazine.co.uk