Lower Thames Crossing gets the go-ahead

The Government delayed approving the new tunnel in the autumn, issuing a decision deadline of May 23, 2025, in order to allow more time for the application to be considered further, including any decisions made as part of the spending review. However, ahead of the publication of its industrial strategy, Reeves pledged to work with the private sector to deliver the infrastructure that the 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,” she said. “To drive growth and deliver value for money for taxpayers, we are exploring options to privately finance this important project.”

The new tunnel linking Kent and Essex would relieve pressure on the nearby Dartford Crossing, which is one of the most congested roads in the country. It costs the economy more than £200 million every year in lost productivity and freight delays.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) welcomed the announcement as a major victory for the road transport sector and for the wider economy.

RHA MD Richard Smith said: “I’m delighted to welcome the announcement – a critical infrastructure project that has been a long-standing priority for the RHA. This is a major victory for our sector and this nationally significant scheme has the potential to turbocharge the economy.

“The project will provide much-needed reliability for businesses. The delays at Dartford decrease productivity and increase costs for businesses, particularly those reliant on freight. The LTC will allow goods to flow more freely, improving journey times.”

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