The HS2 chairman, Sir Jon Thompson, revealed that a bat protection structure will cost £100 million to be built in Buckinghamshire, raising concerns over budgeting practices. This 1km barrier aims to prevent disturbances caused by high-speed trains to the protected Bechstein’s bats. Natural England commented on the project’s mitigation measures, noting that it did not mandate the structure. The chairman criticized the extensive regulatory requirements faced by HS2 Ltd, highlighting the challenge of balancing infrastructure development with environmental considerations as project costs surge.