Camden Council says the noise of HS2 construction is making nearby homes “virtually uninhabitable” ahead of the Euston rail works “ramping up”.
The town hall has asked HS2 to rehouse tenants across Regent’s Park Estate, Coburg Street and Starcross Street who live close to HS2’s construction sites.
Otherwise, the council is proposing to give these residents 630 additional housing points so that they can apply to move away from the multi-billion pound rail project.
Cllr Oliver Cooper, the leader of Camden Conservatives, said this proposal - to be voted on at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday - would unfairly place HS2-afflicted tenants above other vulnerable residents.
HS2, which will pass through South Hampstead and Primrose Hill on its way to and from Euston Station, says it is working to resolve issues faced by local residents including the installation of noise insulation inside their homes.
Camden Council’s planning chief Danny Beales said: “HS2 works are set to ramp up, risking making life intolerable for these residents.
“When combined with the disruption residents are already facing, the likely breaches to noise thresholds that new piling and excavation work will cause will leave residents’ homes virtually uninhabitable.
“We have heard from so many residents that they feel they cannot live in these conditions any longer.
“We have reached the stage where we have to take matters into our own hands and act to protect as many residents as we can from further disruption.”
An HS2 Ltd spokesperson said: “HS2 and the Department for Transport have been working closely with Camden Council, and will continue to work together to try and find solutions that address the issues faced by residents affected by the construction works at Euston.
“We have a number of measures in place to minimise disruption for residents near our construction sites, including fitting noise insulation in homes.”
The spokesperson added: “We take all complaints extremely seriously and have an extensive complaints policy and process.
“We use noise monitors and if noise level limits are exceeded work may be paused, the source identified, and mitigation put in place to prevent reoccurrence.”
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