A lawyer who acts in disputes involving the HS2 extension has said her clients will be ‘infuriated’ by the decision this week to scrap the scheme.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak yesterday announced that the government would halt the northern route of the high-speed rail link, saying the rationale for investing in the project had changed.

It has been reported that the government has spent around £423m on buying hundreds of properties and land for the Birmingham-Manchester leg, but transport secretary Mark Harper today confirmed that there will be no compensation for those who have had to sell.

Sarah Beer, partner at national firm Excello Law and a specialist in compulsory purchase, continues to act for families impacted by the scheme and says many people will be outraged by the decision to pull the plug.

She said: ‘I have seen too many claimants on the brink of, if not already in, mental collapse because of the stress that this scheme has caused them. That is completely unacceptable. That stress is caused by the threat, and then the reality, of having their homes, farms and businesses taken away from them, moved or closed down by HS2. However, compounding that stress is the difficulty they have faced with HS2 and negotiations on their claim.’

Sarah Beer

Beer acts for families impacted by the scheme and says many will be outraged by the decision to pull the plug

Beer said property owners have been put off investing in their homes and businesses knowing the money would be wasted if the property is ultimately demolished, and without the certainty of knowing they would be able to recover all such investment costs from the acquiring authority.

In one case, she represents a farmer whose land was cut straight through the middle by the proposed route. After an initial compulsory purchase of the land for the line itself, he sold the property as well at a hugely reduced price.

Beer said that, despite the compulsory purchase having taken place in 2019, the final value for the land acquired has still not been agreed and HS2 is not engaging on the value of the farmer’s claim for severance and injurious affection.

‘This is bringing negotiations to a standstill and is causing added stress and cost for claimants,’ added Beer. ‘On top of this, HS2 is reticent about engaging in ADR to get these claims resolved outside of the upper tribunal. The result of this being that as the six-year limitation period for a compensation claim nears an end, claimants will be pushed towards seeking a determination in the upper tribunal, at yet further cost for the claimants, and for the taxpayer.’

 

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