5.2.9 Extract

      The experience of other major transport schemes - such as HS1 - is that they can have the effect of blighting the property in the immediate vicinity, either making the property unsalable or reducing its value. In the case of HS2 this blight would be likely to take two forms.

       • Statutory blight relating to those properties that would need to be taken in order to build or operate the line.

• Until any decision is taken on the exact route of the line, the main risk is of generalised blight.

In other words if a property owner tried to sell during this period, uncertainty as to whether that property might be affected by HS2 might have the effect of deterring buyers or reducing significantly the price they were prepared to pay.

Generalised blight can also apply to properties that do not need to be purchased to build or operate the line but which would be severely affected by it

(e.g. through noise). Generalised blight could be triggered as soon as route proposals are published.