£1.3bn compensation scheme revealed for HS2

The Government has announced its planned compensation package for properties affected by the proposed £17bn high speed rail link between London and Birmingham. It could result in a payout of up to £1.3bn, yet campaigners have argued it is still not enough.

Described as ‘generous’ by the DfT, the scheme goes beyond statutory requirements to compensate over 2,000 people affected by the first stage of the line. The type of compensation available ranges from buying and leasing back 338 residential properties that would need demolishing, to purchase schemes for other buildings near the line under blight guidelines.

It is only just that people who are being adversely affected by infrastructure should be compensated but what about those who benefit? Or are the powers that be content with giving away free lunches to landowners, at the taxpayers’ expense?

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