£11m spent on 'HS2 land' is labelled a 'waste and scandal'

More than £11m has been spent by HS2 in the compulsory purchase of properties between Birmingham and Leeds after Boris Johnson cancelled the eastern leg to Yorkshire in 2021, Freedom of Information requests show.

- by Charles Brown

HS2 works near Birmingham. Picture: HS2 Ltd.

(HS2 Ltd.)

A further £25m of taxpayer cash was spent on 25 sites between the West Midlands and Manchester, despite Rishi Sunak axing the final northern leg of the high-speed rail line in October 2023.

HS2 was first proposed to go from London Euston to Birmingham and onwards to Manchester and Leeds. However, it has been beset with delays and overexpenditure.