Spiralling HS2 costs blamed on 'too much Government'

MASSIVE cost overruns and delays building HS2 are the fault of too much state involvement, says a key adviser. Sir John Armitt, chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, told MPs he had "never been convinced by the governance structure of HS2".

- By Guy Taylor

He was chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority for the 2012 Games and said it worked as a standalone body with "our own ability to hire and fire, with our own ability to get on and be given significant delegated powers".

HS2 Ltd oversees the embattled high-speed rail project, acting as an arms-length company funded by grant-in-aid from the Government.

It had been reported that it could come under direct state control following a review into governance and accountability.