Work has started on the first phase of the controversial HS2 project – a year after it was given the Royal Assent by the Queen.

Homeowners living near the phase one route in rural areas are being urged to claim back money from the government, which is being distributed to those affected by the railway construction.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said there are still more than £13 million of unclaimed payments under the Homeowner Payment Scheme.

More than £7 million has been paid out under the scheme, which was launched a year ago.

DfT said the scheme was set up as a way of “sharing the future economic benefits of the railway with local people”.

The route, linking London and Birmingham, and running through parts of south Bucks, has been vehemently opposed by local authorities in Bucks, the National Trust and anti-HS2 campaigners, including Chesham and Amersham MP Dame Cheryl Gillan, who slammed the government’s refusal to tunnel it underneath the Chiltern Hills.

HS2 minister Nusrat Ghani said: “HS2 will be the backbone of our national rail network – improving vital links between some of our biggest cities, driving forward economic growth and regeneration and helping us build a Britain fit for the future.

“One year on from Royal Assent we are making real progress, with significant contracts boosting jobs and prosperity whilst we ensure the new railway is not limited to providing faster, better journeys for passengers, but leaves a lasting legacy of improvements along the route for generations to come.

“Over £7million has already been paid to homeowners living near Phase One of the route under the Homeowner Payment scheme.

“I urge those who are eligible to take full advantage of the £13 million still available under the scheme to ensure the future economic benefits of the railway are shared with rural communities affected by the line.”

The phase one route will run from London to the west Midlands and is expected to be completed by 2025, with the first train services expected to run on the line in 2026.

Last year, a petition to “cancel” the high-speed rail project gained more than 10,000 signatures in less than a week, with campaigners branding it a “vanity project” and asking for it to be axed.

Mark Thurston, chief executive of HS2 Ltd said: “Since Royal Assent there has been significant progress at HS2 in developing our capability to deliver Europe’s largest infrastructure project, and our focus is on designing and preparing the way for the new railway.

“Over the last year HS2 has awarded major contracts that will support 14,000 jobs, the National College for High Speed Rail opened its doors to train the future members of our industry, all alongside a major programme of early works.

“As construction work continues to ramp up, we remain acutely aware of our responsibilities to those communities that we impact.

“Minimising disruption is at the heart of our design, while we retain our aim of creating a ‘green corridor’ consisting of new woodland, wildlife habitats and new amenity facilities to leave a lasting legacy of high quality green spaces all along the route, including the planting of seven million trees.”