National Highways has submitted a new planning application for the £8bn Lower Thames Crossing project – two years after it had to withdraw its first application.
On Tuesday Matt Palmer, executive director for the Lower Thames Crossing, said: ‘Yesterday (31 October 2022) National Highways submitted an application for a Development Consent Order for the Lower Thames Crossing to the Planning Inspectorate, who will now consider if the application will be taken forward to the next stage of the planning process.
‘We’ve carried out a huge programme of engagement and consultation with our stakeholders and communities to improve the design of the Lower Thames Crossing and reduce our impact on our neighbours and the environment. We're grateful to our stakeholders and local communities for taking the time to give us feedback and help us shape our route and how we will build it.’
National Highways first submitted an application for development consent in 2020 but withdrew it after the Planning Inspectorate warned that it would be rejected.
At that time, the government-owned company, which was then called Highways England, said it would be ‘resubmitting the application early in the new year’, i.e. 2021.
If it gains planning permission and does not fall foul of government spending cuts, the project will consist of two 2.6 mile tunnels linking Kent and Essex under the Thames, which National Highways says would be the longest road tunnel in the UK.
The project includes 14.3 miles of new road connecting the M2/A2, A13 and M25 and around 50 new bridges and viaducts.
Laura Blake, chair of the Thames Crossing Action Group, which opposes the project, described the possibility of failure to deliver the project as ‘an existential threat to National Highways'.
She said: ‘This is a hugely destructive and harmful project, that would not solve the problems at the Dartford Crossing, is not fit for purpose, and now estimated to cost in the region of at least £10bn would be a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.
‘Our local authorities, MPs and many major organisations and groups have concerns just like us. The fact National Highways have pushed ahead with the resubmission reeks of desperation for a project that is hanging by a thread and should be put out of its misery.’
