After the recess Steve Gooding, Director General, Domestic Group, DfT gave evidence.
He explained about the gateway process with the Major Projects Authority on HS2.
He was then asked by the chair Margaret Hodge of the Public Accounts Committee of the MPA rating "And what have you got? Red?Amber? Green?"
Steve Gooding went on to explain that HS2 was "Amber Red for a variety of reasons...."
The chair stated that "Amber Red is not good enough".
Steve Gooding stated that "Amber Red is not something we aspire to stay in; it is something we aspire to get ourselves out of".
The MPA colour rating refers in simple terms to economic value for money.
With green (good), green amber, amber, amber red and red (poor).
The meeting then went on to discuss regeneration, but I will leave that for another fuller treatment.
The main point that I wished to raise is reference by the MPA rating HS2 as Amber Red.
This represents a massive milestone moment for HS2.
The government set up the MPA as a flag ship example to independently monitor large projects of this kind. HS2 Limited had better be prepared for the inevitable conclusions that may get drawn sooner rather than later.
Photo of Dumpton Place located off Gloucester Avenue.
