It should be compulsory purchase at 3 x Market value and if you was bought that property within the past 18 months you get back what you paid for it. To stop insider backhanders or it goes to appeal and your background and relationship to anyone in the decision making process (including friends/family) is reviewed.
It would be halfway to being built now if it wasn't for the above. I am sure their is savings to be had in the construction as well with backhanders to private firms who are 50x price on materials as its government spending.
Get it built, to Brum, get it build to Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, get it built to Nottingham, get it built to sheffield, Leeds, York & Edinburgh and up to Inverness/Aberdeen.