HS2 spends over £100m on bat protection shed with no evidence of harm

In the UK, HS2, a high-speed rail project, has incurred more than £100 million costs related to the construction of a protective structure for bats near a railway line in Buckinghamshire. This 1km curved structure at Sheephouse Wood will act as a barrier allowing bats to safely fly over the tracks. Despite claims from HS2’s chairman, Sir Jon Thompson, that there is no evidence suggesting high-speed trains pose a threat to bats, the project has proceeded with these measures to satisfy Natural England, a Whitehall advisory body responsible for wildlife protection. The legal requirements surrounding wildlife consultancy and planning permissions have led to significant delays and cost overruns in the project. Sir Jon emphasized the complexities of navigating through different required consents, totaling over 8,000 permissions just for phase one of the HS2 project, which connects London to Birmingham. This situation underscores broader challenges within the UK's infrastructure planning system, where multiple public bodies must grant approval. HS2’s initial planned budget in 2013 estimated the project at £37.5 billion; however, due to various regulatory demands and environmental concerns, costs for phase one have ballooned to an estimated £66.6 billion, prompting criticism regarding the management of budget priorities. The emphasis on ecological protections, while well-intentioned, raises questions about the feasibility of balancing environmental concerns with the urgent need for modern infrastructure development.