The Government’s HS2 High Speed Rail proposals continue to cause controversy. The deadline for responses in respect of the exceptional hardship scheme has now been extended until 20th May. The aim is to create a discretionary compensation scheme to assist property owners who are most severely affected by the proposals. This is intended to be an interim measure until such time as the statutory compensation scheme is in place. The exceptional hardship scheme should be available to eligible residential and small business owner occupiers whose property values may be affected by the preferred route options and who can demonstrate that they have an urgent need to sell their property.
