Yesterday, 4th October 2023 Rishi Sunak boldly, some say foolishly, pulled the plug on the scheme, impacting landowners and occupiers in the north-west. This will be welcome news for some. It forms part of the “Network North proposal”.
The proposal is to remove the uncertainty along the whole route and therefore, Phase 2a safeguarding will be lifted in weeks. This means that any property that was previously safeguarded by the scheme, will no longer able to claim compensation and any acquisitions will be halted immediately in relation to those between Birmingham and Crewe. HS2 will not be accepting new applications on the existing schemes. Any property which is no longer required, will be sold and a program is looking to be rolled out in relation to this.
In relation to Phase 2b, the section from Crewe to Manchester, the safeguarding will be amended by summer 2024. This is to allow for NPR.
As part of the Network North proposal, £12 billion of funding is available for the NPR link between Manchester and Liverpool. This is concerning for those landowners and occupiers living in the north of Cheshire between Manchester and Liverpool.  As part of NPR, the scheme is likely to be promoted via a separate hybrid bill which could take some 5 to 10 years to develop and pass.
For those landowners whose property was impacted by the original announcement of Phase 2b, where there was a spur between Manchester and Golborne (removed last year), they could once again find their property being impacted.
All safeguarded land below Rostherne Mere will be released immediately. Above Rostherne Mere, the land that was being safeguarded for NPR is remaining in safeguarding for the moment whilst they agree how they are going to deliver the Manchester-Liverpool service.
The hi-speed rollercoaster continues, as additional uncertainty for new landowners could now be around the corner.