Energy & Infrastructure

More than 130 families living on the Shimmer estate in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, may have to leave their homes after the government decided that the HS2 train line should go right through their neighbourhood. Some only moved in days before the route was proposed.

They are among 540 homeowners within 100 metres of the new Yorkshire leg of the line who potentially face being forced out of their homes, according to research by the Yorkshire HS2 action groups, who oppose the route.

The campaigners argue that an earlier proposal, which would have seen the line go to Meadowhall shopping centre, north-east of the city centre, rather than follow the M18 motorway to the city centre, would have resulted in only 296 residential demolitions.

The Government has said that 16 of 216 homes on the Shimmer housing estate will be demolished, but residents dispute that figure. Also, the compensation package offered may not allow some Shimmer homeowners to acquire a similar property in the local area.

 House prices on the estate have already dropped by an average of 10% of their original purchase prices, according to Carter Jonas. Consultants found that a shortage of similar new-build properties in the surrounding area could lead to price inflation as ousted Shimmer residents bid against each other.

At the time the route was announced, 130 houses had been sold on the estate, with a further 90 properties either built or unsold or yet to be built. All homeowners can now apply for the government to buy their properties at the “HS2 unblighted” market rate, plus 10% compensation and moving costs.

At the sharp end though are those properties not considered for demolition but are so close to the line anyway. Peter and Sue Douglas bought their house on the estate for £165,000 in 2014 and spent two years doing it up for their retirement.

Their home is only five metres from the proposed viaduct, so is not included in the 16 definitely facing the bulldozers and may not get government to buy their home and pay compensation. 

Because the estate has never been finished (because of uncertainty over HS2) the houses will be undervalued and they face years of protracted negotiations.

Picture courtesy of Thomas Temple

Plans for a controversial 150ft high wind turbine at Thorpe Satchville near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire have been passed four years after it was built – marking the end to a protracted and agonising planning dispute that has plagued the village for years.

The application for the 46 metre (150 ft) tall wind turbine was first submitted in 2012 and blocked by Melton Borough Council, on the grounds of unacceptable landscape harm. But permission was granted on appeal a year later by a government inspector and the turbine was subsequently erected.

Eric Pickles’, the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) refused the turbine after planning appeal decisions were called in.

This decision was reinforced 2 years later in 2015, when Pickles’ successor Secretary Greg Clark overturned the inspector’s decision and blocked – abd yet after that, a subsequent appeal was overruled and Clarks’ decision was quashed by the High Court.

The council’s current emerging Local Plan, which is currently the subject of a public examination, stated that the appeal site was ‘an area of low or low to moderate sensitivity to wind turbine development and turbines of up to 50 metres in height would be acceptable’. Early in 2018, Sajid Javid finally approved it citing “the environmental advantages of the generation of renewable energy and the contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.” and that “it would help diversify farm business, protect employment, provide a sounder financial footing and reduce energy costs.”

Villagers were incensed that such an industrial installation was allowed to be built in an area of unspoilt beauty, when other options already affected by infrastructure, such as along the M1 motorway had not been considered.

The local community now face looking at the looming presence of the wind turbines just a few hundred metres from their homes – an alien feature in the countryside.