Government extends planning decision deadline
On Monday 7 October, the Secretary of State for Transport announced a new deadline for Government to make a decision on the Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order (DCO) application. The new date is 23 May 2025.
This is to allow the Government more time to consider the application further, including any decisions made as part of the spending review.
Full Written Ministerial Statement.
To get permission to build and operate the Lower Thames Crossing, we must seek consent through a special planning process and be awarded a Development Consent Order (DCO).
Over the last few years we have carried out a huge programme of consultation that has improved the project. We submitted our Development Consent Order application to the government's independent planning authority, the Planning Inspectorate, in October 2022 and from June to December 2023 it was examined by a panel of five planning inspectors known as the Examining Authority.
The Examining Authority submitted a recommendation report to the Secretary of State for Transport on 20 March 2024, and the statutory decision period, which lasts three months, was scheduled to end on 20th June. The deadline was extended by the Secretary of State for Transport to 4 October 2024 and again to 23 May 2025. This is to allow for more time for the DCO application to be considered further, including any decisions made as part of the spending review.
The decision to set a new deadline is without prejudice to the decision on whether to give development consent for the application.
Current Lower Thames Crossing works
Work is taking place at Hole Farm community woodland.
Our delivery team is ready
In 2023 we completed the team that will build the Lower Thames Crossing.
We brought them onboard early so they have as much time as possible to collaborate and carry out the detailed design work that will look to reduce the impact of our work on your community and the environment. They are also helping us embed innovative low carbon technologies and materials, and make sure that local people and businesses have a chance to work on the project.
Our delivery partners have been brought onboard because they share our ambition to build the greenest road ever in the UK and our passion for creating opportunities for the local community.
