The Institute of Directors (IoD) has joined those calling for HS2 to be scrapped, branding the £50 billion high-speed rail project “a grand folly”.
A survey of IoD members found that just 27% feel HS2 represents good value for money, and 70% say the scheme will have no impact on the productivity of their business.
The survey also showed there was little enthusiasm for the project even in the regions where the benefits are supposed to be strongest.
In August 2011, a survey of IoD members found 54% rated HS2 important to their business.
This figure has now fallen to 41%, The IoD scepticism over the scheme, which will see a first, London to Birmingham, phase completed by about 2026, follows a report last week by the Institute for Economic Affairs, which said the cost of HS2 could be as high as £80 billion.