Farmers on the preferred route for a high-speed rail link between Birmingham and London may now be able to get compensation under the government’s Exceptional Hardship Scheme.
The previous government had launched a consultation on the scheme - a non-statutory initiative for house-owners only. However, the NFU has lobbied hard to ensure that farmers are not excluded from the provisions. And now they too will now be able to apply for compensation if their land is blighted by the preferred route.
Secretary of State for Transport Phil Hammond announced yesterday that “the scheme will be widened to include owner-occupiers of agricultural units”.
NFU planning adviser Ivan Moss said: “Farmers more than any other group will be affected by the proposed route of High Speed Two. That’s why we are delighted with the announcement by the Secretary of State that farmers will be covered by the provisions of the EHS. It was a travesty that they were excluded in the original draft proposals in the first place.
“The NFU also believes the announcement that the government will look at the longer term arrangements to assist those who would be most seriously affected by a new line is a sensible one.”
- For more information click here.
- Find out more about our represntations on EHS here.
- Get more planning news from the NFU here.
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