Britain’s Priciest Planning: The Stalled £9 Billion Thames Crossing Project Versus World’s Cheapest Tunnel

Plans for a Thames crossing have been postponed due to escalating costs, surpassing those of the longest road tunnel globally. Initially suggested in 2009, the 14-mile scheme aims to link Kent and Essex with a road and tunnel under the River Thames to alleviate traffic congestion.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Thursday, October 10, 2024, 8:

The future of the largest road project in the UK is uncertain as government officials have postponed their approval, even though more than £800 million has already been invested in it.

The authorities have announced a delay in deciding on the authorization for The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project, citing the need for additional time to evaluate its financial implications.

The initiative, first suggested in 2009, aims to link Kent and Essex with a road and tunnel under the River Thames, designed to alleviate traffic congestion.

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Advocates have expressed outrage in response to the announcement, pointing out that the expenses incurred in obtaining approval for this project have surpassed the construction costs of the world's longest road tunnel in Norway.

Earlier this year, through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, National Highways disclosed that £295 million has been invested in the application process for the LTC. The total expenditure, which includes technical surveys and the cost of acquiring land, has now exceeded £800 million, even though construction has yet to begin.

According to the advocacy group Britain Remade, the fee for planning alone exceeds double the amount Norway spent to construct the world's longest road tunnel.

The tunnel linking Oslo and Bergen, known as the Laerdal tunnel, was constructed at a cost of £140 million, once adjusted for inflation, according to Sam Dumitriu, the policy chief at the thinktank.

He expressed to Sky News his dissatisfaction with the government's refusal to approve the LTC, stating, "I believe this primarily reveals that our planning system is deeply flawed.

"This planning application has undergone unprecedented scrutiny, yet a decision on whether to grant approval remains elusive."

Proposal for development stretches fivefold the length of the street itself

Britain Remade has uncovered that National Highways was required to generate 359,866 pages over 2,383 different documents, which includes revisions and reapplications, throughout the application process.

If placed in a straight line, it would extend for 66 miles, nearly quintupling the actual length of the road.

Mr. Dumitriu remarked that the recent hindrance is indicative of a broader issue within our planning framework.

He stated: "Projects encounter significant obstacles, with every detail meticulously checked, from the dotting of Is to the crossing of Ts, alongside extensive environmental studies, analyses, and surveys, amounting to 360,000 pages in total. Despite all this effort and expenditure, projects can still face delays when a minister opts to indefinitely postpone them."

The original date set for a ruling on whether to approve a development consent order that would allow National Highways to construct the road was set for June 20. However, this was postponed due to the general election.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh was expected to approve it by last Friday, following her receipt of the planning inspectors' recommendation three months earlier.

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In her written communication to parliament this week, she stated that it was "essential" to push the decision deadline to May of the following year, allowing the newly formed government additional time to evaluate the application.

She noted that this encompasses "all choices taken during the budget assessment."

The cabinet minister subsequently informed LBC that she needed to be assured of the availability of funds, and she estimated that the total expenses for the project had reached £1 billion.

She described the statistic as "astounding" and stated her administration's intent to "fundamentally transform our approach to planning and infrastructure."

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The Labour Party is facing calls to prioritize construction in the UK, a key element of their campaign promise to expand the economy.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is anticipated to either cut or postpone infrastructure initiatives in her Autumn Budget, as she aims to address a £22 billion deficit in the economy.

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Should it receive the green light, the LTC is projected to have a price tag of £9 billion and a construction timeline of six years. However, Mr. Dumitriu noted that any postponements could drive costs higher, particularly in light of factors such as inflation.

A study by Britain Remade indicates that the UK is investing up to eight times more in rail and road infrastructure compared to other European countries, attributing the high costs to extensive bureaucratic procedures and local resistance, commonly labeled as "nimbyism" (Not In My Back Yard).

Thurrock Council in Essex has consistently been against the Lower Thames Crossing, pointing out its detrimental effects on the economy, society, and environment. However, the leader of Dartford Borough Council in Kent supports the project.

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The Thames Crossing Action Group, a group of local activists, argues that the proposed crossing would cause significant damage and be a misuse of funds.

According to National Highways, the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) is essential for reducing traffic jams at the heavily congested Dartford Crossing. The current congestion is reportedly draining £200 million annually from the UK economy due to idle traffic. The proposed project aims to double the road capacity across the Thames to the east of London.

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