HS2 Limited have announced today their preferred route from Crewe to Manchester, referred to as HS2 Phase 2B. The route will receive final confirmation in March 2017 and HS2 Limited are currently consulting on the amendments made to the 2013 proposed route.
The route from Crewe to Manchester and Wigan, has now been safeguarded (i.e. planning for an alternative use on any land within the safeguarded area, will not be granted). The width of the route is approximately 120 metres wide.
The Government has introduced two compensation measures; The Express Purchase scheme and the Need to Sell scheme. These have been opened to avoid any unnecessary delay in getting assistance to those with a statutory entitlement or a compelling reason to sell their property. Once the route has been confirmed in March 2017 further compensation schemes are likely to be announced as currently in place on Phase 2A.
The preferred route has changed from that previously published and may affect those landowners and occupiers who believed they would not be affected originally.
Construction is due to commence in 2024, four years after Phase 2A is due to start construction.
Tony Rimmer of Rostons stated, “Those landowners/occupiers who have particular concerns, which in my opinion would be all affected landowners/occupiers should look to engage with HS2 Ltd representatives as soon as possible. Rostons who represent landowners/occupiers will be contacting HS2 in order to start discussions sooner, rather than later. Ensuring that landowners/occupiers have the right agent working on their behalf is the key to the future of any farming business.”
Whilst a land owner/occupier may not want the scheme early discussions can avoid some issues. Rostons are already involved with Phase 2A and the lessons learnt on this phase will assist for Phase 2B.