Major Transport Projects Governance and Assurance Review: The HS2 Experience
Published in June 2025, the Stewart Review, led by James Stewart, examines the governance and assurance of HS2 to identify lessons for future major transport projects. Commissioned by the Department for Transport, the review highlights issues including political instability, unreliable cost and schedule estimates, and limited delivery capability. It recommends a full programme reset, simplified governance, improved assurance, and clearer shareholder roles for government stakeholders. The review draws on interviews, evidence from HS2 Ltd and DfT, and complements findings from previous external assessments.