HS2 Update – Phase 2B route announcement

HS2 Limited has now announced its preferred route from Crewe to Manchester, referred to as HS2 Phase 2B.

The route should be formally confirmed in March 2017 and in the meantime HS2 Ltd is consulting on the amendments made to the 2013 proposed route.

The route from Crewe to Manchester and Wigan has now been safeguarded (i.e. planning for an alternative use on any land within the safeguarded area will not be granted) and the width of the route is approximately 120 metres.

The Government has introduced two compensation measures:

  • The Express Purchase scheme.
  • The Need to Sell scheme.

These have been opened to avoid any unnecessary delay in getting assistance to those with a statutory entitlement or a compelling reason to sell their property. Once the route has been confirmed in March 2017 further compensation schemes are likely to be announced, as currently in place on Phase 2A.

The preferred route has changed and may affect those landowners and occupiers who believed they would not be affected originally.

Construction is due to commence in 2024, four years after Phase 2A is due to start construction.

If you believe any of your clients could be affected or you would like to discuss the scheme, please do not hesitate to contact Tony, Sam or Tom.