PUBLIC NOTICE: (KENT/ESSEX) LOWER THAMES CROSSING NOTICE PUBLICISING A PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER

SECTION 48 PLANNING ACT 2008

REGULATION 4 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009

LOWER THAMES CROSSING, NOTICE PUBLICISING A PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER

Notice is hereby given that HIGHWAYS ENGLAND COMPANY LIMITED of Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, GU1 4LZ (“Highways England”) proposes to make an application (“the Application”) under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 to the Secretary of State for Transport for a Development Consent Order. The Application is for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing (“the Project”), which is a proposed new road connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex through a tunnel beneath the River Thames. The Project’s main proposals include:

• Approximately 14.5 miles (23km) of new road, with a maximum speed limit of 70mph, connecting to the existing road network from the A2/M2 to the M25
• Two new tunnels, one southbound and one northbound
• Improvements to the M25, A2 and A13, where the Lower Thames Crossing connects to the road network
• New structures and changes to existing ones (including bridges, buildings, tunnel entrances, viaducts, and utilities such as electricity pylons) along the length of the new road
• A free-flow charging system, where drivers do not need to stop but pay remotely, similar to that at the Dartford Crossing

In addition, any necessary rights and powers will be sought to ensure delivery of the Project, including compulsory acquisition of land and interests / rights in land.

The Project is an Environmental Impact Assessment development (“EIA development”), as defined by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. This means that the proposed works constitute development for which an Environmental Impact Assessment will be required. An Environmental Statement containing information about the likely significant environmental effects of the Project will therefore be submitted as part of the Application. Separately, preliminary environmental information will be included in a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) which forms part of the consultation materials.

Consultation on the Project proposals will take place from 10 October 2018 to 20 December 2018. Copies of the consultation materials (including documents, plans and maps showing the nature and location of the proposed development and the PEIR) will be available for inspection free of charge during the consultation period at the deposit locations and times listed in this notice.

Copies of the consultation materials also will be available online free of charge during consultation at www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/haveyoursay. The documents that comprise the consultation materials are listed separately in this notice.

A printed copy of the consultation documents, including the PEIR, can be purchased on request by emailing Highways England at info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk, phoning 0300 123 5000, or by writing to Lower Thames Crossing, Woodlands, Manton Industrial Estate, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW. Due to the size of the paper documents, a charge of £175 (plus VAT and P&P) will be made for each set of consultation documents.

Any person may comment on the proposals or otherwise respond to this publicity. Responses must be received between 10 October 2018 and 20 December 2018. Responses to the consultation can be made either electronically or by filling in a paper response form. Paper response forms can be printed out from www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/haveyoursay; picked up free of charge from public information events (see accompanying list), information points and deposit locations; or by phoning 0300 123 5000. Responses can be submitted by:

• Filling in the online response form at www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/haveyoursay
• Emailing comments or electronic copies of the response form to: LTC.CONSULTATION@TRAVERSE.LTD
• Posting comments or paper response forms to: FREEPOST LTC CONSULTATION
• Filling in a paper response form at one of our public information events

Responses must be received no later than 11.59pm on 20 December 2018.

Highways England will consider and have regard to all responses when developing the Application for a Development Consent Order, once consultation has closed. Responses will form the basis of a Consultation Report that will be one of the factors taken into consideration by the Secretary of State when deciding whether the Application can be accepted for examination. Therefore, in providing any comment, it should be borne in mind that the substance of it may be communicated to others as part of the Consultation Report.

If you would like further information about this notice, the consultation or the Project, please contact the project team by emailing Highways England at info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk, phoning 0300 123 5000, or by writing to Lower Thames Crossing, Woodlands, Manton Industrial Estate, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW.

Highways England’s policy on managing personal data can be found at https://highwaysengland.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

David Manning, Highways England

Deposit locations

Public Information Events in Kent

Public Information Events in Essex

List of consultation documents:

• LTC Guide to Consultation
• Consultation leaflets
• Response form
• Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC)
• LTC Response to Consultation 2017
• Case for the Project
• Approach to Design, Construction and Operation
• Map books
• Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR)
• Preliminary Environmental Information Summary
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report
• Traffic Forecasting Report
• Traffic Forecasts Non-Technical Summary
• Section 47 Notice
• Section 48 Notice
• Your Property and Blight
• Your Property and Compulsory Purchase
• Your Property and Discretionary Purchase

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