Costain has confirmed that its joint venture company, Skanska Costain Stratbag has been granted permission to proceed with a full and detailed design and construction of Phase 1 of HS2 in area south as part of its Main Works Civils Contract.

The work, part of a £3.298 billion contract for the joint venture, will focus on the design and construction of major tunnels in the approach to London Euston. This will create approximately 6,000 new jobs.

In response to COVID-19, all work on site is paused apart from safety critical works to protect employees and the public.

HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson said: “We cannot delay work on our long term plan to level up the country. This next step provides thousands of construction workers and businesses across the country with certainty at a time when they need it.”