The positive aspects of vanity projects have been talked up by a management expert.

James Simons, editor of Project magazine, wrote on the Association for Project Management that the excitement generated by initiatives like the upcoming high-speed rail HS2 and the London Olympic Games 2012 can be hugely inspiring.

Executives in project manager jobs may often be faced with the task of leading an expensive scheme designed to leave a legacy, but Mr Simons claimed that the confidence they can create often goes some way towards justifying some of the cost.

"They exist to make a point and distinguish themselves from the norm. From cutting-edge technology to unique or unusual design, they stand for something that goes to the very heart of everything we crave and desire - they look for better," he remarked.

HS2 is arguably the most contentious major project in the UK at the moment, with the government having last week announced that it intends to go ahead with the transport upgrade despite vocal opposition to the rail link between London and Birmingham.

When it is completed the project will cut the journey time between the two cities, potentially helping rebalance the country's economy and transform the transport network, according to The Guardian. Critics claim it is an inappropriate time to start a £32.7 billion project of this type, which could also cause a great deal of environmental damage.

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