10 January 2011
Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, has confirmed that the Government’s proposed high-speed rail (HSR) network will include a direct link to Heathrow and to the European high-speed rail network but at a later date than the initial route to Birmingham.
The completed ‘Y-shaped’ network will reduce journey times between London and the West Midlands to around 30 minutes and allow journey times of around 80 minutes from Leeds and Manchester to London. Connections onto existing tracks would also be included, allowing direct high-speed train services to be operated to cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Newcastle. A direct link to ‘High-Speed One’ will allow travel from cities along the new high-speed line to continental Europe.
Maps of the new route have been published and full public consultation on the route, as well as on the Government’s broader strategy on high-speed rail, will begin in February 2011.
The Government plans to secure the powers to deliver the high-speed network by means of a Hybrid Bill. Depending on the outcome of consultation and Parliamentary timescales and approval, the Government intends that enabling works for the initial London-Birmingham phase will be able to begin in 2015 with the high-speed network opening in phases from 2026.
Under existing planning law, eligible property owners directly affected by any confirmed plans for the development of any future high-speed line have access in due course to statutory blight provisions. These provisions would come into force at such time as safeguarding directions are issued in respect of any route.
However, the possibility of such a line being constructed may in some cases have an impact on property values in the period before statutory protection is available. The Government has introduced an Exceptional Hardship Scheme for householders most affected by these proposals, and in particular for householders who have an urgent need to relocate.