High Speed 2 – bat protection costs

A story has been circulated in several media outlets about the cost of a structure being built over part of the length of the HS2 rail line as it passes through Sheephouse Wood, a woodland Site of Special Scientific Interest in Buckinghamshire. The site has been designated for its Bechstein’s bat population. This ancient and cherished bluebell wood is also home to another 12 legally protected bat species along with wonderful rare invertebrates and legally protected breeding birds, and site of local, national and international importance for nature conservation.

The conservation of our natural heritage, including nature and wildlife, alongside large-scale infrastructure projects and other development does have costs associated with it. We don’t want – and we don’t need – to live in a world where transport networks for people replace wildlife, we need both.

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. The costs of conserving nature should be considered as part of project development, just as costs associated with other project elements such as health and safety are – necessary and essential. Considerations should be given to environmental protection with appropriate solutions, well designed and planned in from the earliest possible stages of a project’s development.

Evidence provided to the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill over ten years ago highlighted the need to take into account the engineering challenges as well as the conservation needs in the area this section of HS2 passes through. In 2011 HS2 Ltd stated in their own blog that “…we would certainly make sure we avoid any negative impact on the Bechstein’s Bats.” The engineering requirements associated with the particular structure HS2 have chosen to build to avoid those negative impacts have been highlighted in a recent article. Local geological and hydrological features, all of which were known about from the time the route was planned, are likely to have added significant extra costs.