HOME owners in North Yorkshire who are set to be affected by the proposed High Speed rail route are being advised to research compensation schemes.

The multi-billion pound HS2 project is set to see the northern route linked to the East Coast main line south of York through a spur near Church Fenton and Ulleskelf.

Timetables for homeowners and landowners applying for the compensation schemes start within the next 12-18 months and largely apply to property owners.

However, anyone owning land on which the proposed route will be located will likely see their land bought by the Government under a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and can also be expected to be compensated for their loss.

York law firm Langleys is warning that the compensation schemes in their current form are complicated and payments are dependent on a property’s distance from the proposed HS2 rail line.

Matthew Pugh, a property litigation expert at Langleys said: "Many thousands of homes within one kilometre of the route to Leeds and Manchester from Birmingham will be affected and therefore entitled to compensation.

"Properties closest to the line are likely to benefit from the compensation schemes to a greater extent but all property owners affected should seek advice on which of the current six schemes might be relevant to them."

Final details of the compensation schemes and their terms and conditions are expected to be known next year when the High Speed Rail Bill (London-West Midlands) is scheduled to receive Royal Assent.