The Secretary of State for Transport is expected to make a decision on whether to grant the Lower Thames Crossing a Development Consent Order by 4 October 2024, however the Department for Transport will endeavour to issue the decision ahead of the new deadline if possible, National Highways has said.

To get permission to build and operate the Lower Thames Crossing, National Highways must seek consent through a special planning process and be awarded a Development Consent Order (DCO). 

Over the last few years it has carried out a huge programme of consultation that has improved the project. National Highways submitted its 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 3 months, was scheduled to end on 20th June. The deadline was extended to 4 October 2024 due to the General Election and to allow appropriate time for any new Secretary of State for Transport to consider the application. The Department for Transport will however endeavour to issue a decision ahead of the deadline if possible.

The decision to set a new deadline is without prejudice to the decision on whether to give development consent for the application.

PIC-NATIONAL HIGHWAYS