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Statistics on applications received for the HS2 Phase One and Phase Two Exceptional Hardship Schemes and the Need to Sell Scheme.

Phase One and 2a Need to Sell Scheme statistics

To date30 Jun 2025
Number of applications received677
Number of applications which are re-applications200
Number of applications withdrawn by applicants111
Average time in weeks for a decision (excluding waiting time for additional documentation requested by the Secretariat)7.275
Number of applications accepted297
Number of applications rejected292
Number of applications pending a decision2
Number of formal offers accepted by applicants258
Number of purchases which have completed257
Total values of those properties where purchase completed£228,570,846

Phase 2b Need to Sell Scheme statistics

To date30 Mar 2025
Number of applications received364
Number of applications which are re-applications81
Number of applications withdrawn by applicants112
Average time in weeks for a decision (excluding waiting time for additional documentation requested by the Secretariat)7.33
Number of applications accepted95
Number of applications rejected162
Number of applications pending a decision1
Number of formal offers accepted by applicants85
Number of purchases which have completed82
Total values of those properties where purchase completed£43,750,525

Phase One, 2a and 2b Need to Sell Scheme statistics: compelling reason to sell

This data includes cases submitted for review by the Need to Sell Scheme’s panel, undertaken from 1 January 2016 to date.

A compelling reason to sell comes under criterion 5 of the Need to Sell Scheme. Applications can be considered to meet this criterion, but not be successful overall because other criteria were not met. Where an application has been unsuccessful overall and one or several reapplications were subsequently submitted the success against criterion 5 for all applications are counted.

ReasonSuccessful applications (Jan 16 to Jun 25)Unsuccessful applications (Jan 16 to Jun 25)
Financial: change in circumstances1523
Financial: difficulty4143
Life stage: retirement1418
Life stage: family1318
Life stage: education37
Life stage: location of accommodation714
Life stage: type or size of accommodation4533
Employment: relocation2119
Circumstance: winding-up of deceased’s estate315
Circumstance: marriage / divorce3513
Health: care requirements3622
Health: type of accommodation6032
Health: location of accommodation2518
Other: combination of factors4784
Other713

Although the Phase One Exceptional Hardship Scheme closed for applications on 16 January 2015 and the Phase Two Exceptional Hardship Scheme closed on 15 November 2016, the statistics below are updated on a monthly basis to reflect ongoing acquisitions.

Phase One Exceptional Hardship Scheme statistics

To date31 Oct 2020
Number of applications received574
Number of applications which are reapplications165
Number of applications withdrawn by applicants61
Average time in weeks for a decision (excluding waiting time for additional documentation requested by the Secretariat)6.9
Number of applications accepted161
Number of applications rejected362
Number of applications pending a decision0
Number of formal offers accepted by applicants148
Number of purchases which have completed147
Total values of those properties where purchase completed£91,739,480

Phase Two Exceptional Hardship Scheme statistics

To date31 Oct 2020
Number of applications received274
Number of applications which are re-applications73
Number of applications withdrawn by applicants38
Average time in weeks for a decision (excluding waiting time for additional documentation requested by the Secretariat)6.5
Number of applications accepted under the EHS97
Number of applications rejected under the EHS139
Number of applications pending a decision0
Number of formal offers accepted by applicants97
Number of purchases which have been completed97
Total values of those properties where purchase completed£61,243,551