Homeowners living near the route of the HS2 high-speed rail link will now be able to ask the government to buy their property.
It follows the transport secretary's announcement that the
route for the first phase of the £42.6bn project has been protected from
future development.Homeowners will get the "unblighted" market value of their property, plus 10% (up to £47,000) and moving costs.
Ministers said HS2 was "moving from the drawing board towards construction".
The new high-speed railway line is intended to link London to Birmingham by 2026, with branches to Manchester and Leeds, via Sheffield, planned by 2032.
As part of the first phase of constructing the line from London to Birmingham, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has announced the "safeguarding" of the route.
'Future prosperity' This means local authorities will now have to consult with the company overseeing construction, HS2 Ltd, about any development within the safeguarded area.
Mr McLoughlin said: "Safeguarding is an important milestone for homeowners and for planning purposes.
"It shows we are determined to deliver this once-in-a generation opportunity to drive growth, generate jobs, and secure our country's future prosperity.
"The purpose of safeguarding is not to prevent
development along the route of HS2, but to ensure that any development
that does take place is consistent with our plans for the railway."
Safeguarding is also the trigger for the government to start
statutory blight procedures - a process whereby homeowners living within
the safeguarded area, typically a corridor 120m wide, can apply to the
government to buy their property.Prior to this the only mechanism through which the government was buying properties on or near the HS2 route was through the Exceptional Hardship Scheme - for those who could demonstrate that they have an urgent need to sell.
Mr McLoughlin said: "I understand the distress of those who live along the line of route and can assure people that we will process claims to purchase their property swiftly so that those who qualify can move as quickly as possible.
"In the meantime we will also continue purchasing properties of those in exceptional hardship ahead of consulting on a comprehensive package of long-term discretionary compensation measures."
'Financial recklessness' The government has already committed to introducing a full compensation scheme that is more generous than the law requires.
However, it is currently re-consulting on the package after the High Court upheld concerns from anti-HS2 campaigners about how a previous consultation was carried out.
HS2 is bitterly opposed by some residents and some councils.
MPs are currently scrutinising the HS2 Preparation Bill, legislation which will pave the way for the development of the line.
The Stop HS2 campaign told MPs: "We are opposed to the HS2
proposals and the passage of this bill.... this bill appears to be
solely aimed at allowing the costs of HS2 to continue to spiral, without
transparent financial accountability."The HS2 Action Alliance said: "With costs rising, we believe it is financial recklessness to authorise further unscrutinised spending when there is a lack of evidence that HS2 delivers against its strategic objectives of regeneration, job creation, economic growth and addressing the north-south divide."