HS2 Independent Design Panel issues warning regarding landscape elements of project
The chair of an independent design panel assigned to HS2 has warned of the consequences of reducing the landscape specification attached to the project, and urged senior leaders at HS2 to reinforce the message that quality of landscape is as important as quality of building and structures.
The chair highlighted relatively small savings associated with reduced landscape specification had the potential to adversely impact the delivery of wider project goals in relation to carbon impact and water management, but also the wider acceptability and success of HS2 proposals.
This worrying message has arisen amongst reported cost and programme cuts, which have already led to reduced deliverables in other areas of the project. According to the Chair’s report, the project is reaching the stage where landscape commitments made during inception will now be refined and detailed before being submitted to local decision makers for approval.
Whilst the message from the Chair is merely a recommendation to the HS2 project team and not a confirmation of any cuts to landscape specifications at this stage, the Association is reassured this aspect of the project is being supported.
The Association and members will be disappointed but not surprised if landscape elements of the project do suffer from cost cutting measures, resulting in poor quality deliverables which fail to meet the original designers’ intentions. Members will likely have seen this process wrongly described as value-engineering in larger engineering projects, where landscape elements are removed due to failure of project teams to value landscape elements of an engineering project correctly.
The Association will report on this issue as updates are released.
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