HS2 bosses to pay £1k for surveys

Landowners along the route of the controversial £32 billion high-speed rail line will be offered an initial payment of £1,000 for allowing surveyors access to their land, it has been announced.

The deal struck by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) will allow access for environmental survey work on the planned HS2 line, which will run from London through the West Midlands.

The Government gave the go-ahead to the scheme, which will cut journey times from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, last month despite opposition from residents, campaign groups and some Tory MPs.

The NFU and CLA said they had reached agreement for an initial £1,000 payment – which will be split between the tenant and landowner where the land is let – for allowing surveyors onto their land.

Farmers and landowners will be in line for additional payments if further environmental impact assessments are needed and will be paid for any damage.

The Government-owned company which is driving the project, HS2 Ltd, said it had begun contacting individual landowners to arr-ange site visits.