A delay in approving a major road tunnel scheme in Essex that promises to boost the UK economy has seen the Tory Government branded “dilly, dally, can’t” at Westminster. Ministers faced accusations of “incompetence” in Parliament over the hold-up to the proposed Lower Thames Crossing, which has been on the drawing board since 2009 and has already cost more than £800 million, says Essex Live.

There have also been calls for a review of the planning system, as the House of Lords heard that the application for the project was one of the biggest ever considered, running to more than 359,000 pages of requirements. The scheme aims to almost double road capacity across the Thames east of London and ease congestion at the Dartford Crossing – which also links Kent and Essex.

Tackling the Government over the progress of the development, Tory peer Lord Colgrain said: “The largest bored tunnel in Europe is now ready for commissioning, with contractors poised and with approval from all seven Kent and Essex MPs whose constituencies are affected.