On Tuesday 10th January 2012, The Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening announced the go ahead of the £33 billion high speed rail project (HS2). It is hoped that by 2026 phase one of the project will be completed, connecting London to Birmingham and reducing travel time from one hour and 24 minutes to 49 minutes. The second phase of the project, connecting Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds should be completed by the early 2030's.
Although there is a long way to go before the construction phase of the project can begin, it is expected that the Hybrid Law, which will give statutory authority for the route, will be deposited in Parliament by the end of 2013. Once the Bill becomes law in 2015, land acquisition can commence. HS2 is going to have a significant impact on the countryside, in particular rural homes, land and businesses. It is estimated that 400 homes will need to be demolished and 250 farms will need to be split to make way for HS2. There is therefore going to be a significant number of individuals affected by the scheme who under statutory law are entitled to compensation provisions due to a compulsory purchase order (CPO) of their property.
Current statutory compensation provisions allow claims for loss or diminution in value of property interests. However, it is argued that CPO for a project such as HS2 do not provide adequate protection or compensation for those affected.
At Robinson and Hall LLP we are experienced in dealing with all types of compulsory purchase work. Having an office based in Buckingham means that we know the local area and can provide a high quality service in order to make sure our clients’ interests are protected.
For further information please contact Andrew Jenkinson on 01280 818905 or abrj@robinsonandhall.co.uk