UPDATE: Campaigners call for project to be shelved in wake of EU results.

A south Bucks MP has expressed concern at reports that the controversial HS2 high-speed rail project may not be delivered on time and to budget, causing more uncertainty in wake of last week’s EU referendum result.

The BFP reported this morning a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) warned that the project is under financial pressure and has an “unrealistic timescale”.

The report, which came out before the EU referendum results last week, said the target opening date of the first phase in 2026 was “at risk despite good progress”, according to national reports.

MP for Amersham and Chesham Cheryl Gillan said: “I am once again worried that there is uncertainty surrounding the delivery of this project, which only serves to drag out the pain and anguish of my constituents.

“This follows a statement by the Prime Minister on June 9 saying that plans for HS2 and HS3 are ‘fully intact’ if the UK remains in the European Union.

“Now that the UK has determined that we should leave the EU, I have written to the Government to clarify what is happening, so that my constituents can understand the status of the project.”

The route, linking London and Birmingham, and running through parts of south Bucks, has been vehemently opposed by local authorities in Bucks, the National Trust and anti-HS2 campaigners who slammed the government’s refusal to tunnel it underneath the Chiltern Hills.

Campaigners’ pleas to build HS2 under the Chiltern’s Area of Natural beauty (AONB) were rejected in a final report published by the HS2 select committee earlier this year.

In addition, the planned tunnel will be extended through Great Missenden, South Heath and Hyde Heath.

The first phase is due to be completed in 2026 with further stages due to open in 2027 and finished by 2033.