The wild complexity of digging HS2 tunnels

Martin tells us about his trip to see one of HS2’s ‘green tunnels’ under construction – and why digging a cut-and-cover tunnel is so much more complex than it sounds. James explains why the Sunday trading laws might be about to change – and why he’s going to unjustifiably take credit for it, if it happens.

And we speak to Simon Dudley, chair of the Representative Planning Group about how the new group is hoping to bring better data to planning fights. (Plus a little about his former roles, as Chair of Homes England and Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.)

James’s piece on the Cambridge sewage works is here.

Martin’s newsletter is here.

The Grocer’s reporting on Sunday trading is here. (James’s piece on Sunday trading is here.)

Note: The interview at the end was recorded before Angela Rayner resigned, so just mentally substitute every mention of “Angela Rayner” with “Steve Reed”, and it still makes total sense.

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You can find James on Bluesky here, and Martin here.

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