(Minister of State for
Transport): Motions to revive the High Speed Rail (West
Midlands – Crewe) Bill, known as the Phase 2a Bill, have now been
passed in each House, and the Bill was re-introduced on 3 March.
I look forward to the progression of the Bill as it nears its
final stages.
I am today publishing revised Safeguarding Directions for the
whole of the Phase 2a route. These Safeguarding Directions
reflect the amendments (and therefore land requirements) which
have been made to the hybrid Bill by the House of Commons as it
passed through Select Committee.
Through these revised Safeguarding Directions, the Government has
protected land that we anticipate at this stage will be needed to
build Phase 2a of HS2 and where there may otherwise be a risk of
conflicting development. Planning restrictions put in place
following the issue of previous Safeguarding Directions have been
removed where we no longer expect to need that land.
Crucially, issuing revised Safeguarding Directions gives people
affected more clarity on the route and allows eligible property
owners to access statutory blight compensation. Under the
statutory blight regime, qualifying property owners are able to
apply to sell their home or small business to the Government from
the time that their property is subject to Safeguarding
Directions.
In addition to statutory blight compensation, the Government has
implemented a package of non-statutory property compensation
schemes that go above and beyond what is required by law. The
schemes are open to qualifying property owners across the three
phases of the HS2 route including Phase 2a. They will be in place
until one year after each phase of HS2 is operational.
I want to ensure that those living near the route receive the
right support at all stages of the project and that those
affected are properly compensated and treated with compassion,
dignity and respect.
Copies of these Safeguarding Directions will be laid in the both
Libraries of the House.
Information on HS2 property compensation schemes are available
at:
https://www.gov.uk/claim-compensation-if-affected-by-hs2
