Residents near Queen's Park station in West London say their homes are developing serious cracks and suffering subsidence following HS2 tunnelling work. Emergency scaffolding has been installed at one property, with some residents relocated. HS2 says ground movement from tunnelling has been small and that unusually dry weather may be contributing to the damage.
Residents in West London say their homes are cracking and sinking following tunnelling work for the HS2 high-speed railway, with emergency safety measures introduced at one property.
Homeowners and tenants living near Queen's Park station have raised serious concerns about damage to properties along Claremont Road and Kilburn Lane.
Several residents claim cracks have appeared or become significantly worse since an HS2 tunnel boring machine passed beneath the neighbourhood between 30 August and 13 September 2026.
The machine travelled approximately 18 metres below the streets while excavating a section of the railway between Euston and Old Oak Common.
However, HS2 Ltd disputes suggestions that tunnelling is necessarily responsible, pointing to pre-existing structural issues and unusually dry weather.
Emergency scaffolding installed
Brent Council installed emergency scaffolding at an end-of-terrace property on Claremont Road after worsening cracks raised safety concerns.
Tenants living on the ground floor were moved to alternative accommodation.
Another resident, 57-year-old Sonia, who has lived in the building for around 20 years, described becoming increasingly worried as cracks in her bathroom worsened.
She said the building's front door had become difficult to open and close because of apparent movement in the structure.
Although her downstairs neighbours had been relocated, Sonia said she was still waiting for her housing association to arrange alternative accommodation.
Residents report worsening cracks
One homeowner on Claremont Road told MyLondon that a substantial crack appeared along the height of their property towards the end of September.
The resident said additional cracks had appeared inside the house, affecting multiple floors.
By late October, some cracks had reportedly widened to approximately the width of a one-pound coin.
The homeowner formally reported the damage to HS2 Ltd on 3 October but was told a response could take eight to ten weeks because of the volume of claims being processed.
Residents have questioned whether that timescale is appropriate given their concerns about the safety of their homes.
Around a dozen people in the surrounding area also reported either new cracking or a noticeable deterioration in existing damage since late August.
Local councillor raises concerns
Brent Liberal Democrat councillor Barbara Want believes the tunnelling work is responsible for the deterioration.
She questioned whether a period of hot, dry weather could explain the extent of damage to Victorian properties that have stood for approximately 150 years.
Councillor Want has joined residents and community groups in calling for HS2 to respond more urgently.
She said affected households deserve reassurance about the safety of their properties and clarity over whether repairs and compensation will be provided.
HS2 responds to allegations
HS2 Ltd says it conducts monitoring and surveys of ground levels before, during and after tunnelling operations.
The company maintains that some properties already showed signs of cracking before the tunnel boring machine passed through the area.
It also highlighted exceptionally dry conditions during the summers of 2025 and 2026, which it says caused unusually high levels of clay shrinkage.
According to HS2, this can contribute to existing cracks widening and new cracks developing.
A spokesperson said the company takes its responsibilities to local communities seriously and investigates claims from properties potentially affected by construction.
HS2 said compensation would be provided where tunnelling was shown to have materially contributed to damage.
The company added:
"Analysis of the monitoring data indicates that tunnelling-related ground settlement in this area has been small in magnitude and in line with expectations."
Residents seek answers and compensation
Affected residents are continuing to seek reassurance, property assessments and financial compensation where appropriate.
Some homeowners say they are particularly concerned about the long-term structural condition and value of their properties.
The dispute highlights growing concerns among residents living above or near the construction route as HS2 work continues across West London.
For now, the precise cause of the reported damage remains disputed between residents and HS2 Ltd.
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