HS2 landowners must have compensation, NFU warns

Landowners and farmers affected by HS2 must receive acceptable compensation and appropriate accommodation works must be put in place, the NFU will tell Government next week.

The NFU’s petition, due to be presented to the High Speed Rail Bill Select Committee on Tuesday and Wednesday, also includes demands for HS2 to only take land that is necessary for the construction of the line itself and not to be taking the most versatile agricultural land out of production for the creation of habitat mitigation.

NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “We have worked to ensure that our members are treated fairly in this process, and will continue to do so. Crucially, it is essential that HS2 Ltd. negotiate directly with farmers on the most appropriate location of mitigation habitat, balance ponds and flood areas. It’s important to remember that the prospect of HS2 has already created considerable uncertainty for our members and this will be looming over them for many years to come. Therefore, the NFU will be pushing for prompt and enhanced compensation for dislocation, distress and loss of income to try and minimise that uncertainty.

“There should also be regular and honest consultations with farmers and growers to ensure farms have access to appropriate accommodation works including bridges for access, drainage and water supplies. In addition, they must have access to severed land and further productive land should not be used to simply dump spoil to create large embankments and areas of sustainable placement. In short, farm businesses must be left in a strong and viable condition after HS2’s construction has ended.”

The evidence-giving sessions will be shown live on www.parliamentlive.tv beginning on Tuesday 18 November.

Farmers and landowners who have submitted petitions on their own behalf have been and will be presenting evidence to the Select Committee individually. The NFU hosted a workshop in September to support member petitioners, and to help them understand the process so that they could adequately prepare for their evidence-giving.

Raymond said: “Farm businesses surrounding the HS2 route are set to be compromised and the delayed decisions will mean the people who are set to have their farmland severed by HS2 are left in the dark.

“Farmers affected must be consulted and informed so they can make the right decisions for their business in the run up to and during this huge impact on their land and lives. A binding and comprehensive duty of care must be established.”

The NFU has been lobbying government to ensure farmers affected on the ground can continue to run viable farming businesses and be treated fairly during the process and compensated appropriately.

HS2 Ltd has attempted to address the concerns of landowners affected by the rail link by releasing revised plans of the proposed route.

The Country Land and Business Association said it was only the 'tip of the iceberg' and action should have taken place sooner.

The organisation said its appearance in front of the Select Committee was a considerable investment on behalf of its members for an issue right at the heart of what the CLA stands for.

CLA President Henry Robinson said: “While HS2 Ltd and the Department of Transport tried to limit the scheme’s impact on the environment, it has failed to address the real impact it will have on those losing land and buildings to HS2.

“People affected by the route have spent five years with the Sword of Damocles hanging over their businesses. They have also spent hundreds of hours meeting with HS2 Ltd to assess the impact of the scheme on their businesses and trying to find a way to maintain a viable business into the future. For these people, HS2 Ltd has offered little due to the archaic compulsory purchase rules which waste time and money, and they have no idea when they will receive any of the compensation due to them.”

The CLA said it is vital the Government accepts that the current compulsory purchase system is unfair and must be reformed.

Mr Robinson added: “There are things HS2 Ltd could do outside of the legislative reform to make the process more tolerable for those affected, such as amending some of the information papers, and bringing forward assurances that the scheme can work for landowners, farmers and businesses.

“It is important that those losing land and buildings to the scheme, or whose land and businesses are severed by the proposals, are not forgotten. These are the people who have to tolerate, close up, one of the biggest railway building projects delivered in the UK for years.”

Northamptonshire farmer and CLA member Nigel Bellingham, called as a witness to the Select Committee said: “I fully support the CLA and its work to reform compulsory purchase law. It is a great opportunity to appear in front of the Committee and make my case directly to MPs. It is essential they listen to how local businesses are so badly affected by HS2.”