Primrose Hill residents who could be affected by the HS2 rail link denied compensation

Published: 26 August, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

HUNDREDS of Primrose Hill residents who could be affected by the High Speed Two (HS2) rail link will be denied financial compensation.

Details of the Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS), which was set up in response to residents’ fears over noise disturbance, damage to homes and plunging property prices, were outlined by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond on Friday.

Under the scheme the government will buy properties whose values have been blighted by proposals for the tunnel if the owner has an urgent need to sell.

Examples of who will qualify include those who need to move into sheltered accommodation, people re-locating for their job, or families that have grown out of their current home.

But those living above tunnelled sections have been excluded as blighting effects are “likely to be limited,” according to Mr Hammond.

Richard Gailbraith, an acoustics, noise and vibrations engineer who lives in Chalcot Square, said: “If HS2 can provide evidence that there will be no disturbance to homes above the tunnel then that’s great, but I don’t believe it.

“Compensation should be related to losses in property value. This whole area is blighted by the plans.”

The EHS was subject to public consultation earlier this year.

It originally applied to owner-occupiers but following a public outcry it was extended to include small businesses, those who have recently inherited a property and ­people whose property has been repossessed and who urgently need their lender to sell it.

The EHS will remain in place until the government makes a final decision on whether to build the line, following a public consultation next year.