Farmers urged to act as northern leg of HS2 unveiled
The proposed route of the high-speed rail network across northern England has been unveiled, threatening the future of thousands of hectares of productive farmland.
The coalition government’s plans for the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project will link 225mph “bullet-style” passenger trains between London and Scotland.
Details of the second phase of the £33bn project, the Y-shaped network north of Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, were revealed on Monday (28 January).
The Department for Transport said the preferred route of phase two will take high-speed trains northwards from Birmingham, with at least five stops including Manchester; Manchester Airport, Toton in the East Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds.
Phase one of the project, the link between London to Birmingham, has already faced a severe backlash from rural communities, including farmers and landowners whose businesses face closure.
The DfT says the controversial project is a “vital engine for growth” which will create at least 100,000 new jobs. Journey times between major cities will be slashed by half, it claims.
But transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “It’s not just about journey times, it is also about capacity.
“We are finding the railways are overcrowded. We’ve seen massive growth in rail passenger numbers, so this is taking HS2 so it serves the North.”
Farmers whose land is situated on the proposed route, however, are devastated and they are demanding compensation.
The government has published a consultation covering proposals to compensate property owners and occupiers whose properties may be affected by HS2.
The key measure is a long-term hardship scheme, which is intended to compensate those affected by the proposed route, but whose property is not required for its construction.
However, the Country and Land Association (CLA) has warned that the extension of the HS2 will blight thousands of rural homes and businesses without providing fair compensation for compulsory purchase.
CLA president Harry Cotterell said: “The government has rushed through today’s route announcement before two major consultations on phase one have finished, showing contempt for rural land and business owners.
“The current compulsory purchase system treats landowners badly while helping to deliver profit to commercial operators.”
Mr Cotterell said while the Extreme Hardship Scheme currently on offer in phase one was restrictive and hard to access, there would be nothing at all for owners affected by phase two until a new scheme is consulted upon.
He said: “The government must review compulsory purchase legislation now, rather than perceiving it as too complex.
“The CLA has published Fair Play: CLA vision for reform of the compulsory purchase system, a policy report that sets out a framework for root-and-branch reform of the compulsory purchase system.
“The government must recognise the difficult position of rural landowners blighted by the HS2 route.”
James Del Mar, head of Knight Frank’s HS2 team, said: “Any landowners who think they may be affected by the second phase of HS2 linking Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester should take action now to find out the extent to which the proposed route will affect their property.
“Although actual construction of the line, if approved, may seem a very long way off, our experience working with clients along the initial London-to-Birmingham leg of the scheme shows the value of good preparation when it comes to putting people in the best position for any potential compensation claims.”
Construction of phase one of HS2 is due to start 2017, followed by the mid-2020s for phase two. The first high-speed trains could be rolled out in 2026.
Are you a farmer affected by the proposed HS2 route? Add your views to our forum or telephone the newsdesk on 020 8652 4905.