After years of speculation, the government has recently confirmed the majority of the route for its proposed HS2 rail link. We look at the route through the Severn Trent region and its potential impact on homes and businesses nearby.
HS2 is one of the largest, not to mention most controversial infrastructure projects in Britain for many years. Once constructed, it will provide a high-speed rail link from London to Birmingham and a number of northern cities.
Phase one of the route, which had been previously announced and is due to start construction in 2017 will run from London to Birmingham. From there, phase two will branch into two routes: 2a running to Crewe and Manchester and 2b, running to the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. This cuts right through the heart of the Severn Trent region, with major transport hubs located in both Birmingham and Nottingham.
The preferred route for the government’s controversial #HS2 project has been published https://t.co/SBRTYuXfvw pic.twitter.com/oROweAITl3
— BBC Radio 5 live (@bbc5live) November 15, 2016
The government’s latest announcement has seen the majority of the route confirmed, with the exception of seven areas that are still out for consultation. These include areas in the Severn Trent region around East Midlands airport, the route through north Derbyshire, and the Nottinghamshire suburb of Long Eaton, where the route is proposed to run directly through the town. Further north, how best to serve Sheffield has not yet been decided, and HS2 Ltd’s recent decision to run through a new housing estate in Mexborough, South Yorkshire is also subject to consultation.
Proponents of the scheme claim that, once completed, it will greatly reduce journey times across the country, as well as providing a much-needed update to the country’s aging rail network. Critics on the other hand argue the scheme is unnecessary, that the difference in journey times will be negligible, and that the enormous cost of the project (currently in excess of £56 billion) is prohibitive. One thing however is inarguable.
For those directly along the route, there will be a substantial impact. To start with, construction of the route is due to take years. Phase one is due to start construction in 2017 but not due to open until 2026. Phase two is not due to be completed until 2033. However, earlier this year, the Public Accounts Committee described this timetable “overly ambitious.” For those close to the route, years of disruptions beckon. For those directly along the route, there is further uncertainty, with compulsory purchase orders for their properties a distinct possibility. Over 4,000 homes in rural areas are expected to be eligible for compensation, while a total of 580 homes will be demolished in work north of Birmingham.
Once construction has finished, those along the route will still have to contend with high speed trains running past their properties regularly, causing noise and pollution. Along the route, sections will be elevated, built into gullies or even walled off.
There will, inevitably be an impact on property prices. Whilst those near stations, such as Birmingham and the East Midlands Hub, could eventually see a boom, those along the route itself may well see a negative impact.
Because of the continued uncertainty, we would always recommend a specialist search for those properties close to the route. We provide a variety of these from trusted providers such as Landmark, Groundsure and Future Climate Info. These not only show how close the route runs to a property, but also a wide variety of information regarding proposed locations of tunnels, viaducts, storage depots, and the likely speed of trains. Just visit the Energy and Infrastructure pages of our site for more information.
We won’t know the full benefits or otherwise of HS2 until the route’s open, which won’t be for nearly two decades. In the meantime, residents and businesses along the route face years of uncertainty and disruption. Let’s hope it’s worth it.