We are not convinced that the Department has embedded all lessons from past failures into its management of the programme. We recognise that the Department has adapted its approach to Northern Powerhouse Rail in response to lessons from High Speed Two (HS2) and other major rail programmes. It is also learning from the success of programmes like the Transpennine Route Upgrade. However, the Government Internal Audit Agency found that there is more work for the Department to do to embed lessons consistently across all its teams and programmes. The Northern Powerhouse Rail programme will span decades and cost tens of billions, so it is key that the lessons are embedded now and into the future. We also fear Northern Powerhouse Rail may face cost pressures from planning and biodiversity requirements – it is not clear how the government’s recent planning reforms will enable the Department to avoid the expensive measures needed on other projects, such as HS2’s costly bat tunnel. recommendation Within six months, the Department should set out: a. how it is ensuring lessons from other rail programmes are consistently shared and embedded into its management of Northern Powerhouse Rail; and b. how it will use recent planning reforms to reduce costs on Northern Powerhouse Rail; and c. how it will address the findings of the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) that programme and project teams across the Department were not consistently applying the lessons the Department had identified. 6 1 Delivering benefits and learning lessons Introduction