Landowners whose land was safeguarded as part of plans for HS2 face more uncertainty after government refuses to give a timeframe on when it will be released.
Tatton MP Esther McVey said her constituents and others across Cheshire were still locked in a holding pattern, despite the section of HS2 which the land was required for, being cancelled nearly two years ago.
Speaking in Parliament, Ms McVey said: “The previous government cancelled phase 2 of HS2 and from what the minister said today, I understand it remains cancelled and phase 2 of HS2 will not be reinstated.
“That being the case, can the minister let me know when the land that is now being safeguarded for HS2, particularly in the mid Cheshire section, will be lifted.”
Phase 2 of the project was cancelled in October 2023 and residents were expecting the land to be released the following summer. But since the general election, the new government is refusing to release the land, leading to frustrations and more uncertainty for residents – all of whom have been dealing with the threat of HS2 for more than a decade.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “I cannot give a date today, but I can assure her (Esther) this is an issue I am fully cognisant of and what we need to look at is whether there is any requirement for any future schemes.”
Ms Alexander said she would come back to MPs once she had more information.
But Ms McVey said the response would offer little comfort for landowners wanting to move on from HS2 and regain certainty over their land.
“They were expecting to have restrictions lifted last summer and I see no reason as to why this cannot happen,” she said.
“It is not fair to keep the threat of another project hanging over residents and landowners and I will keep pressing the minister for a time scale.”
