'Sought-after' village bought by HS2 taken over by squatters and weed

A sought-after village bought by HS2 has been taken over by squatters and cannabis growers.

HS2 bought up to 35 properties in Whitmore Heath to make way for the controversial rail line linking Birmingham and Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports. 16 of them are currently rented, figures show, but 19 of them are still empty.

Villagers claim some of the multi-million pound empty mansions have been turned into cannabis factories or taken over by squatters. They are now calling for more of the properties to be rented out.

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One resident said: "Before HS2, Whitmore Heath was a very sought-after area to live. I always enjoyed walking around the heath until now with the padlocked chained-up gates, empty eerie houses, and HS2 security doing laps around the heath.

“I'm disgusted by how many of these houses are now sat empty, many for over six years. This has resulted in three properties costing over £3 million being turned into cannabis plantations. Another property worth £1.4 million has been taken over by squatters which would never have happened if these properties had been let out. Instead of renting it out, HS2 has now set up a welfare unit for their security on a neighbouring empty property which cost HS2/the taxpayer £1.3 million last year.

“Just on my walk alone, I pass properties worth over £11 million which are all currently sat empty - with some being empty since the day they were purchased by HS2 many years ago. The security alone on our road is needlessly costing the taxpayer hundreds of thousands because these properties should have been rented out."

The issue was raised at a meeting of Newcastle Borough Council. It has emerged that three