Following the UK government’s decision to abandon the HS2 rail project, experts from UCL’s Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction have come together in a new episode of the Bartlett Review Podcast to discuss what went wrong and what happens next
In October 2023, the UK government announced its plans to abandon the original plans for the HS2 Birmingham to Manchester leg.
Given the expense of the project so far, the decision drew plenty of media attention, and questions continue to be asked about what exactly went wrong.
What is covered in the latest Bartlett Review Podcast?
Professor Priti Parikh (Director of School), Professor Tim Broyd, and Professor John Kelsey of UCL’s Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction attempt to answer some of these questions.
The podcast examines why costs were underestimated and what the key project management issues were.
They also look to the future – in particular, what skills and knowledge are required in the leadership of major infrastructure projects going forward.
The future of major infrastructure projects
This question around the future of major infrastructure projects is a key focus for The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction.
The podcast’s featured experts discuss the important role of education in providing not just the essential skills needed to deliver these types of projects, but also the knowledge required to anticipate some of the key issues facing future of the industry.
Speaking on the podcast, Professor John Kelsey – who teaches on the school’s Major Infrastructure Delivery MBA – said: “Any new line now has to withstand not just the climate of the mid 19th century, but the climate of the late 21st and 22nd centuries.”
The Major Infrastructure Delivery MBA is a unique two-year programme that equips mid-career professionals with innovative management and leadership practices. It’s taught in a way that allows those in senior positions to minimise their time away from the workplace.
Listen to the full episode of the Bartlett Review Podcast here.
