By Doncaster housing estate left empty after eastern leg of HS2 scrapped
A housing estate in Mexborough, Doncaster has been left empty after plans to have it demolished were put on hold following the eastern High Speed Two (HS2) axe.
The route would have travelled from the Midlands to Leeds, stopping at Sheffield.
It has been reported that the HS2 will now be replaced by a new Integrated Rail Plan.
However, the new Shimmer estate in Mexborough was in the direct line of where the HS2 would have run if it had gone ahead.
It was due to be demolished, but now it is unclear what will happen to it.
Some local residents have already sold their houses amid the chaos in fear that they would be left homeless if they did not act fast.
Some renters have labelled the area as ‘depressing’, despite its peaceful atmosphere and friendly neighbourhood.
HS2 now owns the majority of properties and land in Mexborough, but Councillor Pickering reportedly stated that they offered less than the market value for them.
Some residents are still wanting to sell their homes to start afresh after the confusion and stress.
Councillor Sean Gibbons told the BBC: “This estate has been in turmoil.”
He added: “There’s only one or two homeowners who are still here.”
The majority of property owners in the area are now renters who are cautious about troubling their landlords.
Whilst some are relieved that the eastern leg – which would have been completed in 2033 – will not be built, the consensus is that locals once again feel like the North have drawn the short straw.
