Upcoming Events :
Housing Seminar: Partnerships with the Public Sector – Avoiding the pitfalls
Thu 31 May 2012
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
High-speed rail compensation scheme launched
Mon 23 Aug 2010
People who will find their homes and businesses affected by the high-speed rail network can now claim compensation from the state.
The government is pressing ahead with plans to upgrade the UK's transport infrastructure by developing a high-speed rail service between London and Birmingham, which will then be extended into the north of England.
This has led to concerns among homeowners living close to the proposed route that it will affect the appeal of their home to prospective buyers.
As a result, the Exceptional Hardship Scheme has been implemented to compensate sellers who can prove the rail line has dented the value of their property.
Every application for compensation will be considered by an independent panel individually and could lead to the government purchasing homes and commercial properties that are affected by their proximity to the planned network.
Plans to introduce the new service, which will include trains that can reach speeds of up to 250mph, were unveiled by the then-transport secretary Lord Adonis in March 2010.
