Controversial rail project HS2 is set to get the go-ahead to continue within weeks.
Boris Johnson is thought to be preparing to reward northern towns and cities which voted Tory by approving the train scheme – despite a string of missed deadlines and a cost of £106billion.
Environmental and protest groups have also said it would cause huge damage to natural habitats and ancient woodland.
But HS2 received a major boost yesterday when Chancellor Sajid Javid threw his support behind it.
Treasury sources said he would go into a crunch No.10 meeting “broadly supportive” of the project.
Downing Street was keeping its options open. The PM’s spokesman said: “It’s an important decision that will be taken based on the facts and we will announce it when we are ready.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has insisted no decision on the controversial infrastructure project – the biggest in Europe – will be announced this week. A review estimated the scheme, which was allocated £56billion in 2015, could cost up to £106billion.
The PM told the Commons on Wednesday a decision on the project would be made “very shortly”.
He said: “I just want to reassure all of my honourable friends and everybody… that there will be an announcement and a decision very shortly.”
The review, led by former HS2 Ltd chairman Doug Oakervee, was leaked last week.
It recommended that “on balance” the Government should go ahead with the railway.
Some £8billion has already been spent on the scheme.
Whitehall’s spending watchdog said this month that HS2 is over budget and behind schedule because its complexity and risks were under-estimated.
The National Audit Office warned it is impossible to “estimate with certainty what the final cost could be”.
Phase One, between London and Birmingham, was due to open in 2026, but services are now forecast to start between 2031 and 2036.
Business chiefs in the North say HS2 is key to boosting transport links in the region and providing increased capacity on the network.
Construction firms warn scrapping it would cause major damage to the industry. But opponents insist HS2 is too expensive
and say the money would be much better spent elsewhere.
