Welcome to the inaugural edition of CR:HS2 – a
publication designed to provide regular commentary updates and
insight into HS2 and the issues arising from it.
It is particularly timely to be releasing this publication now
given that the Hybrid Bill for Phase One (London to the West
Midlands) had its First Reading in the House of Commence on 25
November; at the same time the extensive Environmental Statement
was published and the latest consultation on discretionary
compensation packages concluded last week.
Over the past 18 months, the HS2 team at Charles Russell has been
readying itself for today with a mix of topical articles as well as
substantial legal work advising particularly those with property
interests near the proposed route as to their options.
Therefore, included with this edition of CR:HS2 News are the
following articles:
- Beware HS2 cometh – Forearmed is Forewarned
- Don't miss the connection for HS2 compensation
- HS2 Update – Largely failed Judicial Review not the end of the argument
-
HS2 Update – A Re-Consultation on Compensation
In light of the recent HS2 developments, time is now running out
for affected parties to have a meaningful say in the development of
HS2 policy.
It is currently unlikely that the Government will consult again on
the Compensation options that it will offer and, by releasing the
Hybrid/HS2 Bill, the Parliamentary clock is well and truly
ticking. The Supreme Court may alter this timetable but, for
the time being at least, HS2 is proceeding at full steam.
Any affected or potentially affected party that has something to
say about HS2 now has a very limited time frame within which to do
so and should now be seriously considering:
1. Reviewing the Environmental Statement in detail and making
any representations on its contents by no later than 24 January
2014;
2. Making representations to HS2 Ltd and the Department for
Transport as to objections to HS2 now in advance of the Second
Reading of the Hybrid Bill (which is likely to take place in early
Spring 2014);
3. Following the Second Reading of the Hybrid Bill the
opportunity will arise to petition the Select Committee against HS2
(based on the Crossrail timetable, the deadline for doing so is
unlikely to be more than two months from the date of the Second
Reading); and
4. Lobbying their local Members of Parliament during the
passage of the Bill through Parliament.
There is also the question of compensation claims. Some
limited compensation packages are currently effective (HS2 Ltd
indicate payments in the region of £58million have been made
to date) and more are to follow over the coming months.
The Charles Russell HS2 team (being experts on compulsory purchase
and transport infrastructure cases and having been appointed as
Parliamentary Agents for the Crossrail petitioning process) can
offer experienced legal and commercial advice to help at each stage
of the process and would be delighted to discuss with you your own
needs to plan the best route to holding the project to account,
altering HS2 policy and protecting your interests.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.