Interesting. We're often told our much higher costs of infrastructure projects is down to the elaborate planning system and cost of land but surely neither apply to electrification of existing lines?
Land cost is like £10k a hectare. Yes its higher, yes if you are building a cycleway it’s meaningful. But when you are spending £10m/km or more its not particularly relevant.
With planning a good first step would be to constructively engage with the people affected rather than just steamrolling them as HS2 have done.
Interesting. We're often told our much higher costs of infrastructure projects is down to the elaborate planning system and cost of land but surely neither apply to electrification of existing lines?
Land cost is like £10k a hectare. Yes its higher, yes if you are building a cycleway it’s meaningful. But when you are spending £10m/km or more its not particularly relevant.
With planning a good first step would be to constructively engage with the people affected rather than just steamrolling them as HS2 have done.