It is now likely that the decision will be made after the election in May next year. Further announcements made today in HS2’s ‘Rebalancing Britain’ report launch reaffirmed plans for the south to north route and introduced further proposals for an east to west route dubbed HS3.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “Farm businesses surrounding the HS2 route are set to be compromised and the delayed decisions will mean the people who are set to have their farmland severed by HS2 are left in the dark.
“Farmers affected must be consulted and informed so they can make the right decisions for their business in the run up to and during this huge impact on their land and lives. A binding and comprehensive duty of care must be established.”