Alec Shelbrooke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alec Shelbrooke on 2014-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that houses purchased by HS2 Limited under the Exceptional Hardship Scheme are not sold on at less than market value.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Department for Transport has asked HS2 Ltd to prepare an asset management strategy that reflects best practice in the public sector and relevant policy aims for HS2, including community cohesion and the normal function of local housing markets. To date, no properties purchased under the Exceptional Hardship Scheme have been sold, or offered for sale. Any eventual sales will be undertaken with a view to obtaining the best outcome for the tax payer and for local communities.