摘要: |
The head of the National Audit Office (NAO) called on ministers to consider whether schemes like the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), costing up to £9bn according to some estimates, and the £2.4bn A303 Stonehenge scheme remain 'feasible' as RIS 2 (2020-2025) delays have pushed significant costs into RIS 3 (2025-2030). A new NAO report revealed an increase of £6bn since 2020 in the forecast cost of projects approved in 2020 and planned for delivery between April 2025 and March 2030. In September 2022, National Highways provided a forecast cost of £11.5bn during RIS 3 for these schemes, up from its initial estimate of £5.5bn. The NAO noted that in last year's spending review, the Government shaved £3.4bn off the £12.6bn RIS 2 enhancements budget, which had covered an original 69 projects due to be in construction in the period. This was largely due to delays in achieving development consent orders (DCOs), such as those for the LTC and A303. |