The continuing problems surrounding HS2 provide an important lesson for procurement professionals, engineers and commercial managers.
In May 2026, the Government announced measures to reduce the complexity and over-specification of HS2, including adopting proven European high-speed operating standards and a maximum operating speed of 320 km/h.
The underlying issue is fundamental: have requirements been designed to deliver the necessary outcomes, or has the organisation specified solutions that are unnecessarily expensive?
A specification that demands exceptional technical performance without demonstrating corresponding operational benefits can increase construction costs, introduce engineering complexity and create unnecessary contractual risks.
For commercial professionals, the challenge is to distinguish between what is essential and what is merely desirable. Specifications should be proportionate to operational needs. Value engineering must begin before tendering, rather than after contractors have committed to delivering an unnecessarily complex solution.
I believe a good specification does not demand the highest possible standard. It demands the right standard to deliver the required outcomes at an acceptable whole-life cost.
These issues and more are covered in my Developing Effective Specifications and Scopes of Work course 14 December 2026. This popular course is also available as an in-house tailored event.
Check out our Developing Effective Specifications and Scopes of Work course.