HS2 ‘has made house prices drop by 20 per cent’

House prices along the proposed high-speed rail route have already dropped in some areas and in spring a public consultation will be held on the proposals to compensate those affected by planning blight.

Iain Johnston, HS2 legal advisor and head of the planning and environmental team at Birmingham law firm SGH Martineau, gave guidance to businesses and landowners at HS2 seminars this week.

He said: “Many landowners on the route of the HS2 or near to it have suffered a blighting effect on their properties.

“Estate agents are having to deal with this issue on a regular basis.

“John Boothroyd, an estate agent in the Kenilworth area, states that the blight effect in the area of HS2 has been substantial.

“In his view, some properties very near the line, but outside any potential CPO, will have great difficulty in selling.

“Prices are generally down by 20 per cent in the area as a result of HS2.”

Cubbington Action Group Against HS2 chairman Peter Delow has raised concerns about the possibility of a revised exceptional hardship scheme (EHS) being introduced in autumn, after the consultation.

He said: “This does not bode well for the fair treatment of property owners as the EHS has proved to be totally unfair, arbitrary and totally unsatisfactory and has compensated less than one in four applicants.”

The action group is budgeting to contribute about £1,000 towards transforming the Action Groups Against HS2 (AGAHST) organisation into a legal entity - probably a public limited company - which would maintain its democratic base.

The group, which has about £3,700 in its accounts but is currently operating at a loss, is continuing to organise fundraising events including a skittles night this month (see page 7).

Meanwhile Warwick District Council leader Cllr Michael Doody (Con, Radford Semele) will ask for the council to set aside another £100,000 from its budget to go towards the fight against HS2.

The money will go into the kitty for the 51m group of authorities along the route, which has more than £2 million to fund its campaign.

Some of this fund will pay for a QC to represent the group and to bring about a judicial review of the Government’s decision to proceed with HS2.

A public meeting organised by Stop HS2 will be held at Kenilworth Sports and Social Club, in Upper Rosemary Hill, on Wednesday from 7.30pm.

For more advice regarding HS2 search for press releases in the media section of www.sghmartineau.com