Drivers across the south of England have been handed a huge lifeline as Labour pushes ahead with the controversial Lower Thames Crossing.
Earlier today, Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, confirmed development consent for the Lower Thames Crossing application.
The 14.5-mile road will connect Kent, Thurrock and Essex, and link the existing road network from the A2/M2 to the M25.
This will include the development of two new tunnels running southbound and northbound beneath the River Thames.
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The application was first submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by National Highways on October 31, 2022, with it finally being given the green light.
An examination was launched in November of the same year in which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the chance to give evidence.
In January of 2025, Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government backed the development of the £10billion Lower Thames Crossing.
She said: “We will work with a private sector to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs.
“This includes the Lower Thames Crossing which will improve connectivity at Dover, Felixstowe and Harwich, alleviating severe congestion as goods destined to export come from the North, and the Midlands and across the country to markets overseas.
“To drive and deliver value for money for taxpayers we are exploring options to privately finance this important project.”
The Planning Inspectorate highlighted how local people were given the opportunity to participate in giving evidence, adding that all local views were taken into account before being sent to the Transport Secretary.
It is expected that the Government will give a final confirmation of the project in May after delaying the decision at the end of last year.
Throughout the planning process, the development of the Lower Thames Crossing has been met with mixed reviews, with many supporting measures to cut traffic, while others remain concerned about the impact on the local environment.
Locals have slammed the proposals, with one frustrated resident describing it as a “fiasco”, claiming that people were “living in cuckoo land” for spending £800million per mile for a project that will not significantly improve traffic.
Kent Wildlife Trust also warned of disastrous consequences if the Lower Thames Crossing was to be given the green light, with Planning and Policy Officer Emma Waller warning that it was “not a sustainable solution”.
She added: “The project will destroy irreplaceable habitats, increase carbon emissions, and contribute to long-term environmental degradation. This is not the future we should be building.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The Lower Thames Crossing road project is expected to cost around £10billion
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
“We urge the Government to rethink the Lower Thames Crossing and invest in sustainable transport solutions that benefit both people and nature.”
GB News has approached the Planning Inspectorate and National Highways for a comment.
