Recommendation 27

The Department said it needed to assess what land that had been acquired for Phase 2b might need to be retained for Northern Powerhouse Rail and for some local interests, where the local authorities would like to retain the land. It said that the Department and HS2 Ltd would need to make careful value for money assessments on releasing land back to the market in a way that meets local interests and protects the taxpayer. HS2 Ltd emphasised that release of Phase 2 land would take some time and not be a quick process, notably because of the six tests that made up the ‘Crichel Down’ rules.55 HS2 Ltd said that, assuming the six tests were satisfied, former owners who had been compulsorily purchased would get first refusal to buy back at current market value.56