HS2 breaches the European Convention on Human Rights, claims former Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer.

According to Mr Starmer, who is now Labour leader Ed Miliband’s adviser on crime victims’ legal rights, home-owners hit by the £50-billion project have not been offered proper compensation. He said home-owners affected by the controversial project ‘will suffer substantial loss’ and yet no ‘robust’ assessment of the potential losses had been planned.

He said those affected do not have a proper say regarding compensation, which is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Department for Transport rejected Mr Starmer’s claim, adding that it had already gone ‘above and beyond’ what was required in compensation.

Owners of properties affected have already started receiving ‘exceptional hardship’ payments, with a total of £58?million paid out in 131 cases, even though major work will not start until 2017.