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James Max is a chartered surveyor and broadcaster


HS2 is key to competing in a world economy


HS2 is crucial to UK competition, so opposers should back off , says James Max


Shopping Centre, the M25, the canal network, Traff ord Centre and The Shard have in common? When proposed, mass opposition; when completed, mass support. HS2, the High Speed rail link


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proposal to connect London with Birmingham is no diff erent. Many don’t want it, but when completed, it will be popular and well used. World Wars I and II took a


particularly heavy toll on the nation’s railway infrastructure and there has been a lack of meaningful subsequent investment, which led to our current malaise. For a nation that invented railways, we don’t treat the prospect of investment in new ones with much respect, which is a shame. The completion of HS1, the


hat do Tower Bridge, the M1, the Channel Tunnel, Canary Wharf, Westfi eld


high-speed line from the Channel Tunnel to St Pancras, and the refurbishment of the passenger terminals to a world class standard was a milestone. Surely this would whet our appetite about what modern train travel should be like? Have all the predictions of noise and countryside wrecking from


enough. To compete in a world economy we need world-class infrastructure, so HS2 is just a small piece of that jigsaw puzzle. Some argue that the £33bn


cost of HS2 is too much to spend on a new railway. These people complain that saving 20 minutes on a trip to Birmingham isn’t


“For a nation that invented railways, we don’t treat the prospect of investment in new ones with much respect”


HS1 come true? No. Privatisation, for all its detractors, has stimulated new investment. Some of our train services are rather good, albeit terribly expensive. Economic growth and


development depends on infrastructure. Tinkering with what we have isn’t good


necessary, or they bang on about the environment. Those along the route are simply part of the Not In My Back Yard brigade. What’s not to like? Shiny new trains, an effi cient way to travel around the country, an economic stimulant, jobs and a prestige piece of infrastructure?


From a property perspective, the spectre of major infrastructure development is a living nightmare that the government needs to address. For now, they have implemented the Exceptional Hardship Scheme, which seeks to navigate its way around the out-dated and cumbersome Compulsory Purchase Order. It’s still a diffi cult process and the parameters are nebulous. There’s no doubt that property


prices will move if HS2 is built. Along the line, where it doesn’t stop, prices will go down. At the connection points, they will inevitably rise. When completed, people will see the benefi ts. The property industry must press government to remove the shackles that inhibit owners from buying and selling freely. HS2 is a great idea and necessary for the UK. If it happens to go through your back garden – ‘diddums’.


Inbox Readers’ letters and web comments


16 ● March 2012 ● TheNegotiator


Clients focus on service, not price


I was incensed to read of the Lloyds TSB report [The Negotiator Online, January 30] suggesting that agency fees are onerously high. Pot black? Even the reported average of 1.8% remains pathetically low, and is by far the cheapest fee globally, with fees of between 3% and 7% commonplace elsewhere. Those who suggest that savings can be made by appointing a cheap agent


have no understanding that these agents tend to under-deliver, both in terms of identifying buyers, price achieved, sales progression and peace of mind. The best consumer protection advice is surely to appoint an agency that enjoys a reassuring reputation, is passionate about training and has robust progression and compliance systems in place. These are not the cheap agents. Why should agency fees be moderated?! Are BMW owners getting


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