The delay in the Lower Thames Crossing decision has caused industry-wide concern over potential economic impacts. Key stakeholders express disappointment over the government’s postponement, fearing repercussions on infrastructure and trade routes.
- The £9bn Lower Thames Crossing, crucial for connecting Kent and Essex, faces another seven-month delay in its Development Consent Order decision.
- Industry experts stress that the delay could undermine confidence in the supply chain, affecting the construction and logistics sectors.
- Civil engineering contractors and logistics associations issue warnings about the economic costs of continued delays at the Dartford Crossing.
- Local business leaders highlight the significant economic uplift at risk, emphasizing the project’s importance to regional development.
The heavily anticipated £9bn Lower Thames Crossing project, intended to improve connectivity between Kent and Essex, has reached another impasse. The decision on its Development Consent Order (DCO) has been postponed for an additional seven months, now expected by 23 May 2025. This delay adds to the ongoing frustrations surrounding the project’s protracted timeline, which has already extended over two decades and consumed more than £800 million of public funds.
This latest postponement has been met with palpable dismay across the civil engineering and logistics sectors, both of which deem the project critical to alleviating congestion at the Dartford Crossing. National Highways touts the Lower Thames Crossing as its most ambitious project in 35 years, yet this ambition seems stymied by indecision. Civil engineering contractors, represented by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Ceca), have voiced their concerns, with director Marie-Claude Hemming lamenting the impact on supply chain confidence and the overall industry momentum.
Logistics UK, a prominent voice in the freight industry, echoed these sentiments. David Wells, its chief executive, emphasised the national significance of the project, which extends benefits beyond Kent and Essex. Wells lamented the delay, linking it to sustained economic losses due to current capacity constraints at the Dartford Crossing, where congestion costs rise above £200 million annually due to lost productivity.
Similarly, the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) and local business entities stress the long-term economic implications of stalling the project. BCIS Chief Economist David Crosthwaite remarked on the detrimental effect such delays impose on the construction sector. Meanwhile, leaders from Locate in Kent draw attention to the missed opportunity for economic growth, underlining the crossing’s potential to double road capacity east of London and support an estimated £40 billion economic boost for the region.
The persistence of these delays resonates deeply within local and national economic narratives, as infrastructure projects like the Lower Thames Crossing are seen as pivotal to broader development goals. This decision highlights ongoing challenges in balancing regional development needs with legislative and procedural prerequisites, posing critical questions about the future trajectory of UK infrastructure planning.
The delay in the Lower Thames Crossing decision highlights significant infrastructural and economic challenges requiring immediate attention.
