Collection
HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme and HS2 Need to Sell Scheme: applications statistics
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 date | 30 Sept 2026 |
|---|---|
| Number of applications received | 688 |
| Number of applications which are re-applications | 204 |
| Number of applications withdrawn by applicants | 113 |
| Average time in weeks for a decision (excluding waiting time for additional documentation requested by the Secretariat) | 7.27 |
| Number of applications accepted | 303 |
| Number of applications rejected | 295 |
| Number of applications pending a decision | 2 |
| Number of formal offers accepted by applicants | 263 |
| Number of purchases which have completed | 259 |
| Total values of those properties where purchase completed | £231,731,612 |
Phase 2b Need to Sell Scheme statistics
| To date | 30 Sept 2026 |
|---|---|
| Number of applications received | 365 |
| Number of applications which are re-applications | 81 |
| Number of applications withdrawn by applicants | 116 |
| Average time in weeks for a decision (excluding waiting time for additional documentation requested by the Secretariat) | 7.33 |
| Number of applications accepted | 96 |
| Number of applications rejected | 162 |
| Number of applications pending a decision | 0 |
| Number of formal offers accepted by applicants | 85 |
| Number of purchases which have completed | 85 |
| Total values of those properties where purchase completed | £46,750,025 |
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.
| Reason | Successful applications (Jan 16 to Sept 26) | Unsuccessful applications (Jan 16 to Sept 26) |
| Financial: change in circumstances | 15 | 23 |
| Financial: difficulty | 42 | 45 |
| Life stage: retirement | 14 | 18 |
| Life stage: family | 13 | 19 |
| Life stage: education | 3 | 7 |
| Life stage: location of accommodation | 7 | 14 |
| Life stage: type or size of accommodation | 46 | 33 |
| Employment: relocation | 21 | 19 |
| Circumstance: winding-up of deceased’s estate | 35 | 1 |
| Circumstance: marriage / divorce | 36 | 13 |
| Health: care requirements | 37 | 22 |
| Health: type of accommodation | 61 | 31 |
| Health: location of accommodation | 26 | 16 |
| Other: combination of factors | 49 | 84 |
| Other | 9 | 14 |
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 date | 31 Oct 2020 |
|---|---|
| Number of applications received | 574 |
| Number of applications which are reapplications | 165 |
| Number of applications withdrawn by applicants | 61 |
| Average time in weeks for a decision (excluding waiting time for additional documentation requested by the Secretariat) | 6.9 |
| Number of applications accepted | 161 |
| Number of applications rejected | 362 |
| Number of applications pending a decision | 0 |
| Number of formal offers accepted by applicants | 148 |
| Number of purchases which have completed | 147 |
| Total values of those properties where purchase completed | £91,739,480 |
Phase Two Exceptional Hardship Scheme statistics
| To date | 31 Oct 2020 |
|---|---|
| Number of applications received | 274 |
| Number of applications which are re-applications | 73 |
| Number of applications withdrawn by applicants | 38 |
| 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 EHS | 97 |
| Number of applications rejected under the EHS | 139 |
| Number of applications pending a decision | 0 |
| Number of formal offers accepted by applicants | 97 |
| Number of purchases which have been completed | 97 |
| Total values of those properties where purchase completed | £61,243,551 |