More than £115million of taxpayers’ cash was ‘wasted’ buying hundreds of homes along the section of the HS2 route that was scrapped this week.
There were 455 total properties purchased on the first ‘eastern’ leg of the high-speed railway line, meant to connect Birmingham with Leeds.
On Thursday, the Government stated that the new section would only be extended to East Midlands Parkway south of Nottingham. This means around two-thirds of the eastern leg has been axed – and it is understood most of the 455 properties were located along this section.
Although the homes were purchased to be demolished for the railway line, this is no longer necessary. However, the properties cannot be sold off as ministers have reserved the right to revive the original route – with no cut-off date.

Anti-HS2 poster blocking the front door of Nigel Hogue’s Shimmer estate home.
HS2 Ltd purchased the homes on behalf Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary. In total £115,013,357 was spent, or an average of around £250,000 per property. After being informed that their properties were on the eastern leg of HS2, owners decided to sell. Many of them are located near Toton, Nottinghamshire where there was supposed to be a new hub. Some of them are being rented.
Greg Smith is a Tory MP and sits on the Commons Transport Committee. He said that it was ‘horrible. There was clearly a change of heart by the Government regarding the eastern leg. However, it is shameful that some people were made to feel that they must move on…before a project can be approved 100 per cent.
Sarah Olney (Lib Dem Transport Spokesperson) said that it was a wasteful use of money. These are the results of Government indecision. It has disrupted people’s lives who made plans – either to move home or make business investments – based on the promise the Government repeatedly made to deliver HS2.’

Boris Johnson boarded a train that ran from Wolverhampton station to Coventry after the Government dropped plans for HS2.
The Government’s revamped strategy known as the Integrated Rail Plan, (IRP), has also left thousands of homeowners on the original route in limbo for many years. Ministers decided that the “safeguarding directions” to protect the route should be maintained.
These homeowners have been given notice by the Government that they could continue the original HS2 route from Leeds to London. Their properties might still need to go. The Ministers are yet to set a deadline for making a decision.
It means that HS2 Ltd, despite not being able to build the entire line in its entirety, will have to buy the properties of homeowners who want them to.
Harry Fone of Taxpayers’ Alliance stated that Ministers need to scrap the remaining HS2 bills before they spiral out of control. The Department for Transport stated that they recognize the impacts HS2 has on residents.
“That is why our compensation programs go beyond the requirements of law. The government has committed to exploring the best way to operate HS2 trains from Leeds. It’s vital that we protect property until final decisions are made.

The Government’s revamped strategy known as the Integrated Rail Plan has also left thousands of homeowners on the original route in limbo for many years.
The housing estate has gone off track
CHRIS BROOKE – DAILY MAIL
For residents of a £30million housing estate, the on-off HS2 project has been a blight on their lives.
The possibility of the railroad line being reopened in the future is still a legal possibility. This has put the community out of luck.
Families’ cherished ‘forever homes” were destroyed overnight after it became clear that the route through South Yorkshire’s Shimmer Estate in Mexborough was being rerouted.
Years of stress followed as more than 160 homeowners from the estate – which was then still under construction – tried to negotiate a fair deal from HS2 Ltd to buy their properties.
Many described the company’s behavior as ‘horrendous,’ with at least one experiencing a crisis.
This week’s announcement about the end of HS2’s Eastern leg meant that their pain was over.
But even now communities along the route are unable to move on, as ‘safeguarding’ remains in place – meaning the potential for the line being revived remains. Low-cost rentals are now possible thanks to the ghost of HS2. These once highly valued townhouses can be found in beautiful countryside. Only two original owners are left. This has led to crime and anti-social behavior.
166 homes with up to 4 bedrooms were sold when the HS2 route became known. Another 46 are currently under construction. There were approximately 400 residents.
Robert Hulme 38 said that HS2 caused the split with his partner of three years, whom he had shared the estate with for the past three years.
HS2 originally offered to buy his house for £149,000, the same price he had bought it for, but after almost three years of wrangling he accepted £163,000. His relationship with HS2 was ended by that point.
It caused many arguments among us, and eventually we parted ways. He said that it caused him a lot stress.
We had to do a lot more bartering before we could get the price to rise, but after that our split was complete and we had to accept it. It was horrible from beginning to end.

In 2017, the newly built Shimmer estate in Mexborough, South Yorkshire was demolished by residents to make room for the HS2 rail line.
“It was so heartbreaking. We were thrilled when we moved in. It came with a balcony. The neighbors were also very kind and it was an excellent estate.
“There is an online group that has problems with thefts and children throwing stones, they moved to social housing now.
An alarm installation specialist, Mr Hulme stated that he is now married to a new partner. However, the Uturn to end the line was “annoying” as it had caused him a lot stress.
Carer Leigh Smith, 56, and her teacher husband Michael were also forced to sell up – but moving out took three years.
Having initially been offered £12,000 less than the £140,000 they paid for the property, they eventually received a sum more or less matching it. They still lost money due to the expense of moving into a Doncaster home. ‘Our mortgage is now £50,000 more and the property is smaller,’ Mrs Smith said.
She said that they became ill from trying to move. This led to them constantly reserving other homes, and losing out to HS2 Ltd delays in settling the Shimmer estate sale. She said that they were a terrible couple. “It was terrible and almost caused me to collapse,” she said. Couples’ pain was compounded by the fact that their original home was “our forever home”, our dream.
“We were only three weeks away when we received the letter concerning the railway line,” she stated. ‘We hadn’t even done a meter reading.’
A second householder remains on medication after suffering a brain injury from the ordeal. Bev Chapman said that many people have had their rug pulled from under them. She is also a local Councillor.
Spokesman for HS2 said that the route was being safeguarded and that a review of how to transport high-speed service through South Yorkshire to Leeds is ongoing.