Help for those hit by blightGovernment statement summarised by Colin Sully
At the end of July the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed that the government would introduce an Exceptional Hardship Scheme to provide assistance for those most severely affected by the uncertainty surrounding the HS2 proposals. He said the scheme would be open to applications from Friday 20th August. The other salient points of his announcement are summarised below:
“… Respondents to the consultation also made many suggestions as to how the terms of the scheme might be altered. I have considered these and have made the following changes from the scheme put forward for consultation.
Some changes agreed...
Firstly, the scheme will be widened to include owner-occupiers of agricultural units and commercial properties with an annual rateable value not exceeding £34,800; this brings it in line with the blight provisions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Secondly, the scheme will also be able to cover properties recently inherited following a bereavement and repossessed properties that the original owner urgently requires the bank or other lender to sell to realise some value.
A number of respondents asked for the scheme to be extended to properties over tunnelled sections of the proposed line of route. It is my view, however, that any blighting effects over tunnels are likely to be limited… However, I accept that there is a need to make special provision in relation to properties close to the proposed entrances and exits of tunnels. I have therefore decided to extend the scheme to cover these properties.
Finally, I have decided that the panel which makes recommendations to me on applications to the scheme should have a majority of independent members…
…but other ideas rejected
In other respects, the scheme will operate as set out in the consultation document. In particular, the scheme will apply only to properties on or in the vicinity of HS2 Ltd’s route option 3. HS2 Ltd’s report makes a clear recommendation and it is therefore my view that assistance of this kind should be focused on this route, where the blight impacts will be most severe. It is also my conclusion that, to minimise the risk of blight spreading as a result of a scheme of this kind, it should be limited to those who have a pressing need to sell and who would otherwise experience exceptional hardship…
Longer-term hardship
If a decision is taken following public consultation to proceed with a new high speed line and to safeguard the route that it would follow, statutory blight arrangements would come into force covering those properties which would have to be acquired in order to build or operate the new line. However, many respondents suggested that additional provision would be needed to cover those properties which would not have to be acquired but which might still be seriously affected by the construction or operation of the line…
I am mindful of the importance of appropriate longer-term arrangements to assist those who would be most seriously affected by a new line. I agree that some additional provision over and above the statutory blight regime will be needed to achieve this, and it is therefore my intention that this should be put in place, if and when a decision is taken to safeguard a route.”
Footnote: On the day the EHS scheme was launched, Kathryn Gurney – representing HS2 Action Alliance – appeared live on BBC Radios 4 and 5. She strongly presented the arguments that the case for HS2 is flawed and that the current EHS is unfair.