‘Push on with HS2 Euston hub at pace’, ministers are told

The capital’s commercial property sector today urged the Government to push on with its plans for a HS2 hub at Euston “at pace”, amid concerns that the huge railway project may never reach central London.

In an open letter to Transport Secretary Mark Harper, the London Property Alliance (LPA), which represents more than 400 companies involved in central London real estate including developers, landlords and planning consultants, said the high speed rail line’s terminus in zone one would bring massive social and economic regeneration.

The association’s chief executive, Charles Begley, wrote: “Leaving up to 60 acres of Euston in limbo for years or decades to come would be a retrograde step and a disservice to both the capital and country.”

The line will initially stop at Old Oak Common, six miles from Euston. In March, Mr Harper said the last section to Euston would be paused as predicted costs spiralled to £4.8 billion from an initial budget of £2.6 billion.

The LPA pointed to the success of the Elizabeth line, with almost 200,000 new office jobs created in the local authorities served by its stations since 2012, and a host of developers committing to build new shops and offices near stations.