This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3dep92x054o

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
£100m cost for HS2 bat safety 'shed' says chairman Bat safety shed will cost £100m, says HS2 chairman
(about 2 hours later)
The current HS2 chairman asked "did people think about the bats?" when setting the project's budgetThe current HS2 chairman asked "did people think about the bats?" when setting the project's budget
HS2 Ltd is spending more than £100m building a "shed" for bats, the chairman of the government-owned company said. A special shed that will be built to protect bats will cost £100m, according to the chairman of HS2 Ltd.
Sir Jon Thompson told a rail industry conference the bat protection structure in Buckinghamshire was needed to appease Natural England, as bats are legally protected in the UK.Sir Jon Thompson told a rail industry conference the bat protection structure in Buckinghamshire was needed to appease Natural England, as bats are legally protected in the UK.
Government adviser Natural England was contacted for comment. The 1km (0.6 mile) curved barrier will cover the tracks alongside Sheephouse Wood near Calvert in Buckinghamshire, to prevent bats being disturbed by high-speed trains.
The 1km (0.6 mile) curved barrier will cover the tracks alongside Sheephouse Wood near Calvert to prevent bats being disturbed by high-speed trains.
Sir Jon said there was "no evidence that high-speed trains interfere with bats".Sir Jon said there was "no evidence that high-speed trains interfere with bats".
The barrier will allow bats to cross above the high speed line without being disturbed (artist's impression) "We call it a shed," he said.
"We call it a shed. This shed, you're not going to believe this, cost more than £100m to protect the bats in this wood," he said. "This shed, you're not going to believe this, cost more than £100m to protect the bats in this wood."
Natural England has been contacted for comment.
The barrier will allow bats to cross the high speed line without being disturbed (artist's impression)
Other more expensive options, including a bored tunnel and re-routing the railway, were considered.Other more expensive options, including a bored tunnel and re-routing the railway, were considered.
After receiving the go ahead from Natural England for the design, HS2 Ltd was forced to spend "hundreds of thousands of pounds" on lawyers and environmental specialists because the local council did not approve the work, Sir Jon said. After receiving the green light from Natural England for the design, HS2 Ltd was forced to spend "hundreds of thousands of pounds" on lawyers and environmental specialists because the local council did not approve the work, Sir Jon said.
"In the end, I won the planning permission by going above Buckinghamshire Council's head," he explained."In the end, I won the planning permission by going above Buckinghamshire Council's head," he explained.
The bat protection structure would run for 1km over the railway line, costing £100m The bat protection structure will run for 1km over the railway line, costing £100m
Buckinghamshire Council’s Peter Martin, who is deputy cabinet member for HS2, previously expressed "extreme disappointment", external about the structure. Buckinghamshire Council opposes HS2 and has previously criticised the project, external for "unnecessarily damaging Sheephouse Wood".
In March 2023, the council said HS2 was cutting back trees in Sheephouse Wood in order to protect the "Bat Mitigation Structure" and railway line. The deputy cabinet member for HS2, Peter Martin, said: "Whilst the council wishes to protect species such as Bechstein's bats, one of the country’s rarest species, it was never supportive of what seemed like extremely excessive costs for a single structure.
Earlier this year, Mr Martin said: "We believe HS2 Limited is unnecessarily damaging Sheephouse Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Ancient Woodland." "HS2 Ltd has always been adamant that the bat tunnel structure, which has been designed and built by HS2 Ltd’s own contractor, and the associated costs, were necessary, but it is not something we insisted on."
'Trite'
Sir Jon claimed the issue was an example of the UK's "genuine problem" with completing major infrastructure projects.Sir Jon claimed the issue was an example of the UK's "genuine problem" with completing major infrastructure projects.
He told the Rail Industry Association's annual conference that HS2 Ltd has been required to obtain 8,276 consents from other public bodies in order to build phase one of the railway between London and Birmingham. He told the Rail Industry Association's annual conference that HS2 Ltd had been required to obtain 8,276 consents from other public bodies in order to build phase one of the railway, between London and Birmingham.
He said: "People say you've gone over the budget, but did people think about the bats [when setting the budget]?He said: "People say you've gone over the budget, but did people think about the bats [when setting the budget]?
"I'm being trite about it, but I'm trying to illustrate one example of the 8,276 of these [consents].""I'm being trite about it, but I'm trying to illustrate one example of the 8,276 of these [consents]."
Sir Jon, who has led the project since Mark Thurston left his role as chief executive in September 2023, warned in January that the estimated cost for phase one has soared to as much as £66.6bn compared to the £37.5bn forecast in 2013. Sir Jon, who has led the project since Mark Thurston left his role as chief executive in September 2023, warned in January that the estimated cost for phase one had soared to as much as £66.6bn - compared to the £37.5bn forecast in 2013.
HS2 will see high speed trains running between London and BirminghamHS2 will see high speed trains running between London and Birmingham
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external.Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external.