Knight Frank’s aerial view of the HS2 route

Knight Frank offers a unique aerial view of the HS2 route for affected property owners

Since the controversial HS2 project was approved earlier this week (10.01.12), land and property owners along the route have been scanning maps trying to work out just how badly they will be affected.

It is difficult, however, to get a clear impression from looking at a two dimensional plan. To remedy this, Knight Frank’s Mapping team has now produced a series of Google Earth-based videos that offer a bird’s eye-view of the route.

The route has been split into sections, allowing property owners to look at the specific area that affects them. Click here to view the HS2 video routes. (Note: Videos of sections 7-33 are currently available on the Knight Frank website. Sections 1-6, which run through London, will be added in due course.)

Michael McCullough, Head of Mapping at Knight Frank, comments: “Our website has received an astonishing number of additional visitors – over 15,000 – since HS2 was given the go ahead. Property owners are understandably concerned about the impact of this controversial scheme, so hopefully these new maps will allow them to get a more thorough understanding of its potential impact.”

James Del Mar, Head of the HS2 Team at Knight Frank, adds: “Although the government has committed itself to HS2, there is currently no mechanism in place for anybody to claim compensation, other than those who qualify for the existing Exceptional Hardship Scheme – although there are helpful indications that further voluntary compensation measures will be established, and we await the details of those.

“Once the route has been “Safeguarded”, the process by which the government prevents planning permission being granted along the route, the provisions of Statutory Blight apply. This is due to take place in the autumn. We very much hope that the other voluntary schemes will also be in place by then, or earlier.”

For more information on HS2 and to find out how Knight Frank’s specialist team of experts can help affected property owners, please go to www.knightfrank.co.uk/hs2.

For further information, please contact:

James Del Mar, Head of HS2 Team, Knight Frank:+44 (0) 7767 633915, james.del.mar@knightfrank.com

Michael McCullough, Head of Mapping, Knight Frank:+44 (0) 1488 688508, michael.mccollough@knightfrank.com

Charlotte Palmer, Country PR Manager, Knight Frank:+44 (0) 20 7861 5037, charlotte.palmer@knightfrank.com

Ends

Notes to Editors

Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank and its New York-based global partner, Newmark Knight Frank, operate from 207 offices, in 43 countries, across six continents. More than 6,340 professionals handle in excess of US$886 billion (£594 billion) worth of commercial, agricultural and residential real estate annually, advising clients ranging from individual owners and buyers to major developers, investors and corporate tenants. For further information about the Company, please visit www.knightfrank.com.

About Mapping

Good quality plans are an essential element in effective management of property, whether supporting sales, land registration, strategic planning or the on-going management of portfolios, estates and farms. The Mapping and GIS Department has the resources and specialist mapping / surveying equipment to provide all your mapping, data capture and spatial analysis requirements.