HS2 Search

HS2, or “High Speed 2” is the proposed new rail link between London and the North. It will initially connect London Euston to the West Midlands and will then connect the West Midlands to Leeds and Manchester. The official line is that it is intended to bring jobs and investment to the North by bringing it “closer” to the South East.

The proposal has caused enormous controversy among people living in areas along the proposed route as well as conservationists generally. The chief concern is that as it passes through rural areas, particularly in the South of England, it will damage the countryside and will adversely affect residents of villages and small towns along the route (with increased noise and pollution as well as the disturbance during construction) and lead to a fall in house prices in traditionally sought after and affluent areas.

Potential effect on house prices in the North

A less talked about potential effect of HS2 is the effect on house prices in the North, near to the stations on the route. The reduced travel time between London and major northern cities will make commuting between cities such as Leeds, Manchester or Birmingham and London a realistic possibility for the first time. Just as house prices in the “commuter belt” around London are so high because of their proximity to the capital, a similar effect could be seen in northern areas. This could be a major positive for existing homeowners or a negative for those looking to get onto the property ladder.

Will HS2 affect the property I want to buy?

Such is the importance of HS2 and the potential effect it could have on the property market in the affected areas, a search has been developed which will indicate how a particular property will be affected, if at all, by HS2. The search will show:

• How close the property is to the line;
• How the route may affect the property to be purchased;
• Whether the route near to the property to be purchased will be in a tunnel, in a cutting, at ground level or in a viaduct

The distance between the property to be purchased and such features like tunnels etc
Broadly speaking, a search should be considered if a property is in any of the following local authority areas:

Phase 1 – Connecting London Euston to the West Midlands

Aylesbury Vale District Council, Birmingham City Council, Camden Council, Cherwell District Council. Chiltern District Council, Coventry District Council, Islington Council, Litchfield District Council, London Borough of Brent, London Borough of Ealing, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London Borough of Harrow, London Borough of Hillingdon, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, South Buckinghamshire District Council, South Northamptonshire District Council, Stratford on Avon District Council, Three Rivers District Council, Warwick District Council, Westminster City Council, Wycombe District Council.

Phase 2 – Connecting West Midlands to Leeds and Manchester

Ashfield District, Barnsley District, Bolsover District, Broxtowe District, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Chesterfield District, City of Nottingham, Erewash District, Leeds District, Lichfield District, Manchester District, Newcastle-under-Lyme District, North East Derbyshire District, North Warwickshire District, North West Leicestershire District, Rotherham District, Rushcliffe District, Selby District, Sheffield District, Stafford District, Tamworth District, Trafford District, Wakefield District, Warrington, Wigan District

When will HS2 commence?

Although phase 1 is not expected to be operational until 2026, work is due to commence in 2018. Whilst you may be forgiven for thinking that this is too far in the future to be seriously concerned, the extensive publicity means that properties in areas along the route are likely to see the effects in terms of price and marketability even before the commencement of the project.