Government gives 'green light' to develop on former HS2 land

The Transport Secretary Mark Harper is lifting the safeguarding directions for High Speed 2 (HS2) Phase 2a (between the West Midlands and Crewe), in a written statement to Parliament on January 18.

Safeguarding is a planning tool used to protect the land needed for the HS2 scheme from potential conflicting development and requires the local authority to consult with HS2 Ltd on planning applications within the safeguarded land.

On lifting the safeguarding, the Department for Transport (DfT) says that ‘the government is delivering on a commitment made in the command paper Network North: transforming British transport, published on 4 October 2023.’

The news is the latest development following the cancellation of the HS2 ‘Phase 2a’ between West Midlands and Crewe, though land close to Handsacre is to remain safeguarded with a view to a connection between HS2 and the West Coast Main Line, including an upgrade of Handsacre Junction.

For areas where safeguarding has been removed, the Rural Support Zone, Extended Homeowner Protection Zone and Homeowner Payment schemes are now closed, with existing applications to be ‘reviewed on a case-by-case basis’.

Harper added that the Need to Sell scheme remains open for those who meet the criteria and have a ‘compelling need to sell, until the blighting effect of HS2 has fully receded’.

Safeguarding for Network North

Meanwhile, the Network North command paper committed that Phase 2b safeguarding will be amended by summer 2024, ‘to allow for any safeguarding needed for Northern Powerhouse Rail’.

Harper confirmed that safeguarding work for Northern Powerhouse Rail is underway and will provide further details of areas affected ‘in due course’.

The lifting of safeguarding is separate from the programme for disposing of any property no longer needed for the HS2 project which the DfT says ‘will begin shortly’.