Another benefit would be that people would pay much greater attention to local politics. You would need to make sure that the bus road goes through your neighbor's house, not your house. Whoever ignores the local democracy, loses their house; that is a powerful incentive for participation. What could possibly go wrong?

Easily said if you’re not one of the latter category, I suppose.

I am all for the compulsory purchase of property for very large infrastructure projects like this. Protection of worker safety is less negotiable.

Pertinent to this discussion, if you haven’t seen the wonderful Aussie film ‘The Castle’, you should.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpqT_l7QcBM