The Audio Long Read ‘We hate it. It’s desecration’: the real cost of HS2
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Feb 2, 2026 A retraced journey along the HS2 route reveals construction's visible footprint on landscapes and communities. Locals describe prolonged disruption from lorries, roadworks and closed footpaths. Engineering choices and spiraled costs are examined alongside environmental trade-offs like tree felling and bat protections. Farmers and homeowners share stories of paperwork, compensation delays and lives upended.
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Project Became Political Symbol
- HS2 has become a symbol of political ambition, cost overrun and long delays that clash with local lives.
- The project shifted from a high-speed vision to mainly increasing rail capacity amid rising costs and timelines.
Long Temporary Land Possessions
- Patrick Barkham describes contractors, derelict golf courses and long temporary land grabs along the route.
- He notes that 'temporary' possession often lasts for many years, disrupting local life.
Straight Alignment Drives Major Engineering
- Building HS2 requires complex civil engineering because high-speed alignment must be very straight.
- That leads to many viaducts, tunnels and huge earthworks that widen the project's environmental and social footprint.