Following the initial consultation period, Highways England have released the following update on the Lower Thames Crossing:

Thank you for your interest in the Lower Thames Crossing consultation. We received a fantastic level of engagement and we are very grateful to everyone who took the time to take part in the consultation. More than 47,000 people took part, making it the largest ever public consultation for a UK road project.

As you will be aware, the consultation, which closed two months ago today, invited views on proposed routes for a new road crossing below the Thames, which would be the first new road crossing for the Thames east of London for 25 years and would unlock massive economic benefits for the region and the whole country.

• nearly 30,000 people had their say online
• 3,700 people sent in the paper survey
• around 13,000 sent a letter or an email response
• more than 500 local government and industry groups also responded to the consultation
• in total, 47,034 responses were received

We are very encouraged at the significant level of engagement, as these responses will really help Highways England to make the best possible recommendation to government about the route that this vital new road link should take.

The responses are now being analysed before a final decision on a preferred route is expected to be made by the government later this year. From there, Highways England will develop the next stage of the project’s assessment and design, which will be the basis for a further public consultation, following which Highways England will make a Development Consent Order application – beginning the formal planning process for the new road.

Subject to the necessary funding and planning approvals, the new crossing would be open in 2025, if publicly funded. If private funding is also used to meet the costs of the project, it is anticipated the crossing would be open by 2027.

However, concerns have been raised and challenges made that the consultation failed to include all the options – click HERE to find out why.

By Editor UCRA on 25th May 2016   /   Lower Thames Crossing, News   /   Leave a comment