Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans that HS2 Limited will offer land subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order that has not been used by the project back to its previous owner under the Crichel Down rules.

Land and property assets that have been acquired for HS2 via Compulsory Purchase Order or Statutory Blight, and that are no longer required, will be sold subject to the Crichel Down Rules.

These require Government departments, under certain circumstances, to offer back surplus land to the former owner or the former owner’s successors at the current market value.