HS2 Matters

Phase 1 purchase schemes.

A new leaflet describing the range of cash payment and property purchase schemes available to eligible owneroccupiers along the proposed route of Phase 1 and 2a has been released by HS2 Ltd.

Available from the HS2 Ltd website ( www.hs2.gov.uk), the leaflet explains the options available for people affected by the project, as follows:

Express purchase: If you own and live in a property that is very close to the line of route and is in the designated ‘surface safeguarding area’, you could apply for it to be purchased. Safeguarding is a process that protects the land potentially required for HS2 from any conflicting developments.

Rural support zone: There are payments and purchase schemes for people who live up to 120 metres from the line of route (where not covered by safeguarding). They are available where the railway would be in a rural area and on the surface, not in a tunnel. Homeowner payment scheme: There will be cash payments for people who own and live in properties in the homeowner payment zone, which is typically up to 300 metres from the line of route, next to the rural support zone. The scheme will be launched as and when HS2 routes are approved by Parliament. It will be available where the railway would be in a rural area and on the surface, not in a tunnel. Need to sell: A purchase scheme for people who have a compelling reason to sell their property, but can’t do so (other than at a significantly reduced price) because of HS2. There is no geographical boundary for this scheme. Detailed maps of where the different property schemes are available can be found at www.bit.ly/ HS2property.