Farming sector fears new rail plans will repeat HS2 blunders

The NFU has called for better treatment of farming families affected by rail infrastructure projects following the government’s announcement of plans for a Northern Powerhouse Rail development and a future north-south line linking Birmingham and Manchester.

Initial proposals include new and upgraded routes affecting Leeds, York, Bradford and Sheffield, alongside a new rail connection between Liverpool and Manchester via Manchester Airport and Warrington.

See also: Farmers may not get their land back, despite HS2 being ditched

NFU vice-president Rachel Hallos said farmers along the Birmingham to Manchester route had already experienced significant disruption linked to HS2, parts of which were scrapped by the previous government in 2023.

She said farming families had endured “years of disruption because of HS2 flipflopping, delays and insufficient communication, uprooting both their businesses and everyday lives”.

“Farming families along these routes will have lots of questions and plenty of concerns about how the projects will be delivered,” she said.

“Now they will be held in limbo for at least another decade, possibly even two, before work on the new line even starts.”

Ms Hallos said major infrastructure projects have long-term impacts.

“These are not developments that take a few months, they are years in the making. This means another generation of families will be hit, many of whose homes, land and livelihoods already bear the scars from HS2.

“Lessons need to be learned from that experience – farming families need to be treated better.”

Planning process

The government said it would apply lessons learned from HS2, working closely with local partners to streamline planning processes, reduce delays and prevent projects exceeding budgets.

But John Greenshields, one of the Country Land and Business Association’s (CLA) regional surveyors, said uncertainty remained around the proposals.

He said: “I fear the new plans may be a resurrection of HS2 in practice, and that is a major concern for those along that route.

“You may have a grey cloud hanging over you for years until a decision is made, and then there will be years working around construction and surveys, and then perhaps not being paid fair compensation for the impact.”

He added: “With HS2 and with other infrastructure, there is a chronic lack of respect for farm businesses, which are often viewed as just being in the way of these projects.”

Mr Greenshields noted that the CLA is pushing the government for a general code of practice “for when projects come along and plough through people’s homes”.