A widower, Alan Wilkinson, 85, who sold his home to HS2 shortly after his wife, Gillian, died from pancreatic cancer, found out it was transformed into a cannabis farm.
Initially purchasing Ravenswood in the late 1970s, the couple enjoyed the property for decades, making improvements like a swimming pool and a new kitchen. They decided to sell following HS2 plans to tunnel beneath Whitmore Heath in Staffordshire in 2019. Mrs. Wilkinson passed away just before finalizing the sale, and the HS2 line project was later canceled.
After acquiring the property for £1.2 million, HS2 rented it out through an agency. Darren Pinnington, 32, then turned it into a cannabis farm, leading to a police raid in November 2022.
Mr. Wilkinson, distraught by the news, shared his sorrow at the loss of their home, filled with memories of his late wife. He criticized the HS2 project for disrupting the village’s community and felt the property’s transformation was a tragedy.
The property remains unoccupied due to the damage caused by the cannabis farm, with repair costs preventing HS2 from re-letting it. Private security oversees the area, collaborating with local law enforcement.