Summary and implications
The Department for Transport has issued safeguarding directions for the vast majority of Phase 1 of the HS2 project.
If your land falls within the area of the safeguarding directions, or your land is close to them, you will need advice on the implications of being safeguarded and/or blighted. Safeguarding directions can have a serious impact on the sale and redevelopment of land. There are also compulsory purchase and compensation implications which need to be considered at an early stage.
Landowners and businesses should:
- review the safeguarding directions: Does your land fall within the safeguarded areas? Is your land close to an area covered by the safeguarding directions?
- obtain advice: If your land falls within the safeguarded areas or close to it, obtaining advice on the implications for its redevelopment or sale is essential.
Whilst the hybrid bill for Phase 1 of HS2 will be deposited in Parliament towards the end of this year, there remains uncertainty as to whether HS2 will go ahead, given the current cost estimates of approximately £50bn. Safeguarding directions can remain in force for some time. For example, the route of Crossrail 2 (Chelsea–Hackney Line) was originally safeguarded in 1991 and is not expected to come forward until 2025.
As a result, we recommend that you consider all the implications of being safeguarded or blighted at a relatively early stage in the project's timetable and prior to the depositing of the hybrid bill in Parliament, so that an appropriate strategy can be implemented.
We can help you identify whether your land is affected and advise on the legal implications of being safeguarded, as well as the options available to you.
To read more, please click here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
