Royal Assent for HS2

It’s Been a Long Journey!

23rd February 2017 saw Royal Assent being granted for the Hybrid Bill for the first phase of High Speed 2, linking London with Birmingham and the West Coast Main Line near Lichfield.

This marks the end of a long parliamentary timetable effectively started in 2010 with the first round of public consultation before the decision to proceed with HS2 was made in January 2012.

Phase 1 which extends 225km will run from an expanded Euston Station in London to Curzon Street in Birmingham which is the site of Birmingham’s first mainline station which opened in 1838.

Whilst some preparatory work commenced in 2016, construction of the route is anticipated to take a number of years, with current estimated opening dates being between 2029 and 2033.

Royal Assent gave HS2 the compulsory purchase powers to serve notice to acquire the land required to deliver the route. Service of formal notices are often the precursor to compensation negotiations, albeit these can begin in advance, with compensation being assessed under the Compensation Code. This enabled not just residential property owners to enter into negotiations but also commercial property owners, investors and developers who did not previously qualify for earlier compensation schemes.

In addition to compensation being paid to parties whose land and property are directly affected, Royal Assent also opened up a number of other compensation schemes for those living in the Rural Support Zone which generally runs between 60m and 120m from the line. These schemes are the “Voluntary Purchase Scheme” or “Cash Offer” and are available to owner occupiers who meet the qualifying criteria. In addition Royal Assent also opened up the Homeowner Payment Scheme for those property owners located between 120m and 300m from the line, whereby payments of between £7,500 and £22,500 are payable dependent on proximity to the line. Existing discretionary compensation packages such as the Need to Sell scheme are also available.

Roger Hannah have a dedicated CPO and HS2 team who are advising a number of claimants and affected parties within Phase 1 and also the subsequently shelved phases. Should you wish to discuss compensation entitlement, please feel free to contact the team.