CLA urges Government for fairness as controversial HS2 gets go-ahead

The CLA is urging the UK Government to deliver fairness to landowners after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the controversial HS2 high-speed rail link will be built.

Supporters of HS2 say it will improve transport times, increase capacity, create jobs and rebalance the UK's economy.

Preparation and construction  have already had a significant impact on business on the route in the past 10 years.

These plans have sparked much concern among the rural community, especially as the costs are expected to spiral from the initial £56bn estimate.

CLA President Mark Bridgeman said: “This is the chance for UK Government to ensure that it delivers fairness and certainty to landowners who lose land and often their livelihoods to the scheme. 

“Where land is taken under compulsory purchase, it is only fair that full payment of compensation is delivered immediately when HS2’s occupation takes place and that a duty of care is imposed on the company to mitigate the impact on the affected businesses  - this would be a real step change to what has happened over the past 10 years of this scheme.”