29.07.13
2,700 houses at risk from HS2 in Camden
HS2 should do more to protect 2,700 homes from demolition in Camden, campaigners for the Euston Cross scheme have urged.
A two-track line between HS1 and HS2 with an underground station would link Euston and St Pancras/King’s Cross, saving £1bn in Phase 1 costs and providing a new link for domestic and international services.
The current compensation scheme will cost £600m to extend a tunnel beneath the Chilterns, helping to protect 100 affected homes. There is no such mitigation planned for Camden, where houses will be demolished to provide a terminus station at Euston and Lord Berkeley and Lord Bradshaw are promoting the Euston Cross proposal as an alternative.
Lord Berkeley said: “The Government should look carefully before agreeing to any more tunnelling under the Chilterns to save around 100 properties when its current plans put over 2,700 properties at risk in Camden. It could save another £1bn by putting the more of the line through the Chilterns on the surface, as was successfully done with HS1 in Kent!”
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