Farmers on the preferred route for a high speed rail link between Birmingham and London may now be eligible to receive compensation under the government’s Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS).
The previous government had launched a consultation on an EHS - a non-statutory initiative just for home owners. But, under new guidance, farmers are not excluded from the provisions of the scheme and will now be able to apply for compensation if their land is blighted by the preferred route.
Phil Hammond, the secretary of state for transport, announced that “the scheme will be widened to include owner occupiers of agricultural units”.
National Farmers’ Union 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.”
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