New interactive tool shows how public feedback has shaped the Lower Thames Crossing

Published

19 Oct 2022

Today, (19 October) we’ve published a new interactive tool showing how a comprehensive programme of consultation and engagement has shaped the Lower Thames Crossing as we prepare to submit our planning application.

Visitors to our website can explore maps, images and videos that illustrate how the plans to design and build the crossing and connecting roads have been improved through a series of consultations and engagement with stakeholders dating back to the route options consultation in 2016. The changes cover improvements to the design of the road and junctions, extending the tunnel by almost a kilometre away from nearby protected wetland and reducing the impact on Ancient Woodland.

The tool shows other ways feedback from local communities and stakeholders has shaped the plans including:

Lowering the height of the road, in some places by as much as five metres, so approximately 80% of the route is below ground level or behind false cutting
Reducing the number of lorries needed during construction from 17,500 to 9,500 by re-using excavated material on site to create landscaping features and two new public parks. This would include Tilbury Fields, a planned new landscaped park, giving communities panoramic views of the Thames
Creating or upgrading almost 40 miles of walking paths, cycle paths and bridleways – almost 3 miles of pathways for every mile of new road
Adding more than 200 hectares, the equivalent of around 280 football pitches of compensatory habitat and woodland to compensate for the potential impact on designated habitats.

Mark Bottomley, Deputy Project Director, Lower Thames Crossing, said: “It is important we make rapid progress on tackling the issues at Dartford that are a barrier to growth. The Lower Thames Crossing will almost double road capacity across the Thames and ease congestion at Dartford.

“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 have designed around 80% of the new road below ground level or behind false cutting and added two new public parks – one on the north bank of the Thames and one at the southern tunnel entrance. 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.”

"It is important we make rapid progress on tackling the issues at Dartford that are a barrier to growth. The Lower Thames Crossing will almost double road capacity across the Thames and ease congestion at Dartford"

Mark Bottomley, Deputy Project Director, Lower Thames Crossing

Find all of our consultation materials and other related documents, including a summary of the feedback received during the local refinement consultation held earlier this year.

In the coming weeks, we will be submitting an application for a Development Consent Order, where local communities will have a further opportunity to provide their views on the plans to the Planning Inspectorate. If consent is granted, we expect to start work to build the crossing in 2024.

Read the full press release.

For further information contact us at info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk or by calling 0300 123 5000. You can also get the latest updates on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and our new YouTube channel.