Recommendation 5

The Department and HS2 Ltd do not yet know when they will dispose of land and property no longer needed and how they will balance different interests. The Department has spent over £600 million on land and property (in 2019 prices) along the section of the route that has now been cancelled. Part of this land may be required for other projects, such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, but the Department is looking to release land for other purposes quickly. When disposing of the land, HS2 Ltd and the Department will need to ensure that this is done in a way that protects the taxpayer as well as local interests, while also being fair to those who have had their properties compulsorily purchased. The sale of land and property can take many years, with individuals seeking to buy back land no longer needed for Phase 1 finding the process difficult and lengthy. There is a moral expectation that government should expedite opportunities for people who wish to buy back their land and property where they have been required to sell it. Recommendation 5: The Department and HS2 Ltd should, alongside the Treasury Minute response, report to the Committee their plan for land and property disposal. This plan should include: • how they will factor in the need for value for money for the taxpayer and the needs of those who have been affected; and • how they will learn the lessons from land and property sales already occurring as part of Phase 1 and from other property disposal programmes across government.